Jeremy Giambi: Wow.
I can’t see anything in his line this year that indicates he’s a bum as a hitter. His average has dropped of late, but his OBP is still pushing .400. Seems to me he’s the best lead-off hitter the A’s had. Or now have.
My argument against Giambi in recent years has been based on the fact that the Royals dumped him (though they got far more for him than the A’s did) because he didn’t get along with Tony Muser (a little general). Now he’s been dumped again, with far less ceremony, for dime-a-dozen John Mabry. In between, Giambi was busted for some pot possession in the off-season.
Without making any specific judgments it seems to me likely that Giambi wore out his welcome in Oakland. Why did they get so little for him? Either because they didn’t care, they just wanted to be shut of him, or because everyone else knows.
I suspect we’ll find out a little more soon, but the deal still won’t make any sense.