Giambi's deal, which also includes a $6.5 million club option for 2010 with a $1.25 million buyout, is considered by many to be a steal for the A's. While with the New York Yankees last season, Giambi made $23.5 million in the final year of a seven-year, $120 million deal he signed prior to 2002. He hit .247 with 32 homeruns and 96 RBIs in that final year.
Despite the low batting average, Giambi's homerun and RBI potential will be greatly welcomed to an A's offense that was eleventh in the American League in homeruns and dead last in RBIs. As for individual performances, Jack Cust led the team in both homeruns (33) and RBIs (77) while only batting .231 for a team that also batted a league-low .242 in 2008.
Giambi's bat, combined with the surprising acquisition of former Colorado Rockies superstar Matt Holliday and the potential return to everyday play for often injured third baseman Eric Chavez, instantly gives Oakland a much more dangerous offense heading into 2009.
However, the question that now lingers in the minds of every A's fan is can their team now dethrone the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.
The Angels lost a significant offensive threat in Mark Teixeira, who signed an 8-year, $180 million contract with the New York Yankees during the offseason. Vladimir Guererro is also another year older and coming off a season that might show he's reaching the twilight of his career.
However, Los Angeles' pitching staff, which includes perennial All-Star John Lackey and the young talents of Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jared Weaver, sported the third lowest ERA in the league at 3.99, just behind Toronto (3.49) and Tampa Bay (3.82).
The departure of closer Francisco Rodriguez to the New York Mets will weaken the bullpen, even with the addition of former Rockies closer Brian Fuentes. However, the bullpen's setup weapons are still intact with Scott Shields and Jose Arredondo still ready to take the ball for the Angels in the late innings.
Perhaps the biggest deciding factor will be Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who's been known to successfully integrate young, inexperienced talent into a lineup to fill holes brought on by injured or departed regulars.
Bob Geren's A's are young and inexperienced as well, but Geren doesn't have the track record that Sciosscia has in regards to what he's able to do with his young players. There are also numerous questions surrounding Oakland's pitching staff, which will be anchored by All-Star Justin Duchscherer, who is also coming off hip surgery, and at least three pitchers that made their major league debuts in 2008. This young staff may turn out to be a surprise in 2009, but it's still to early to tell.
In the meantime, Giambi's presence will definitely make the A's better in 2009, but it's still not likely enough to overtake the Angels in the West.
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