ESPN: Souce Says Giambi to Oakland 1yr. $4M

by ru155 on Jan 6, 2009 11:11 AM PST Comment 47 comments

So it looks like we will be picking up no-stach-ambi for $4M for a one year deal with an option for a second year at $6.5M.

I think this is awesome for Oakland. $4M for a power bat, no D, and solid OBP. I would have to believe if Beane still has money to float - although that could have changed, but no way to know - he could be looking for a nice pick-up for SS?

Or maybe just looking to store cash to take a shot at Matt Holliday in the off season. Doubtful, but the offseason is the time for dreamin'.

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Shows that JG really did not need the money

I think he really wanted to come back to Oakland all along.

I’m a happy camper.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 11:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

MY BAD!

Just saw this info was added in a post “Giambi Returns to Oakland”

It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.

by ru155 on Jan 6, 2009 11:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

you can delete it if you wish

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jan 6, 2009 11:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

actually, numbers are new

your post had it in the $5M range. This new espn bump as it now at $4

It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.

by ru155 on Jan 6, 2009 11:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Slusser on KNBR now!

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 11:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Just caught the end--did she say anything interesting?

by worldblee on Jan 6, 2009 11:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It was a good interview

She talked about Jason wanting to come back to Oakland, how he really left his heart here, despite the money from the Yankees.

Talked a little about the steroids, Billy Beane, Matt Holliday, and Bob Geren as a manager. She thinks the A’s could contend if they stay healthy and says the Angels are looking rather unscary offensively.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 12:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

Thanks for the info. One thing I can say about Giambi from having talked to him once is that he’s a nice guy and a good team spokesman. One big difference between Oakland and NY is that he was the center of attention in Oaktown but just one part of a big machine in NY. I think he enjoys being more central.

by worldblee on Jan 6, 2009 12:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would've loved it if Giambi said the Angels were unscary offensively.

"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."

by Blicks on Jan 6, 2009 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Like a crotch-grab/flip-off while saying they're unscary?

au contra ire

by JediLeroy on Jan 6, 2009 8:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He left his heart here???

Didn’t Giambi bad mouth the A’s organization and said how he always wanted to be a Yankee!!

I’m glad you’re coming back, but don’t try to sell us bullsh*t!!!

by auldone on Jan 6, 2009 4:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Just speculation of course,

but, if $4/M year one and $6+/M year two, it looks like BB got JG to take less now, to add another bat? Maybe a SP? Looks like the eye on the prize is 2009.

"RIP: UserID: 553"

by Masaryk on Jan 6, 2009 11:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'd imagine that the second year has a 2-2.5m buyout so at least $6m is guaranteed ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jan 6, 2009 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope.

2nd year = 1.25 MM buyout, by all accounts I’ve heard.

"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."

by Blicks on Jan 6, 2009 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Contract like this

2009 – $4 million
2010 – $5.25 million or $1.25 million buyout

at least $5.25 million guaranteed

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jan 6, 2009 1:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

my favourite nickname for him

is giamboid

when did we stop using adverbs proper?

by alea iacta est on Jan 6, 2009 11:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I can't stop thinking "Giambino"

stupid Yankees.

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Jan 6, 2009 11:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That is now

probably my favorite word.

by Holy Toledo! on Jan 6, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

it works for other people, too

barroid
roidger clemens

um. and more, i’m sure

when did we stop using adverbs proper?

by alea iacta est on Jan 7, 2009 11:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Assuming that Giambi didn't blow all his money

perhaps he did take less to come to Oakland.

The question though is how much did Burrell’s signing effect Giambi? Not in the timing of his signing, that was obvious, and not even in Money, but Years. DId Burrell only getting two years make Giambi decide that 1 year and an option was the best he could do?

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jan 6, 2009 12:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It was the threat of signing GA that did it

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 12:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Going off of rumors here...

…but the reports indicated that three teams had shown interest in Giambi, us, the Rays and the Blue Jays. When the Rays signed Burrell, that basically knocked them out of the picture. Toronto was probably a significantly less attractive option for a lot of reasons. While it’s not certain that the A’s are going to be competitive this year, it is fairly certain that the Jays are not. He’d have to move to Canada during the season, and as an employee of the Jays, would have to pay Canadian taxes (significantly higher than US), whereas with Oakland he could move back to his home state and to an area he knows. Maybe if his agent had really worked the phones the next couple weeks, he could have gotten a million more per year, but maybe at that point we start looking at Abreu or Dunn (I refuse to accept that Anderson was ever an actual possibility) and he loses his shot of coming back to California.

by Nate on Jan 6, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Income tax

would have to pay Canadian taxes (significantly higher than US)

That’s just not correct.

Top federal rate in Canada is 29%, top provincial rate in Ontario is 11.16%.

Top federal rate in U.S. is 35%, top state rate in California is 9.3%.

There’s other considerations, of course — size of deductions, FICA, etc — but once your income is over a million a year, all that really matters in the final analysis is the top rate. Giambi would pay a lower percentage of his income with a tax home of Toronto than he would in Oakland.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Jan 6, 2009 4:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Did I say "income tax"?

First off, federal taxes in the US and Canada as well as the provincial taxes in Ontario use a progressive system, where you’re only paying the top rate on the amount that’s in the top bracket, which means something in this instance given that Canada’s top rate kicks in at about $123K whereas the US’ top rate is over $357K.

Second, those “other considerations” are rather crucial. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development put out a study that showed that when taken into account, a single Canadian worker will pay 31.6% of their earnings in personal taxes vs 29.1%. The difference is much greater for married workers with children, but how much of that difference Giambi, (who is married but has no kids,) would see, I have no idea.

Third, I strongly doubt Giambi would choose to establish a tax home in California seeing as how he lives in Las Vegas. (Go ahead and look up Nevada’s income tax rate.) Giambi wouldn’t have that option in Canada.

Lastly, way to completely ignore Ontario’s 13% sales tax, almost 50% higher than Alameda County’s. Giambi would very much not pay a lower amount of taxes as a Blue Jay than he would as an Athletic.

by Nate on Jan 7, 2009 1:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Some of that is not relevant

For someone making ~$5 Million/year, whether the top tax rate kicks in at $123K or $357K makes a pretty small difference. Ballpark estimate: the difference between a marginal tax rate of 25% and 35% on $200K, is $20K. That’s a nice chunk of money, but it changes his aggregate tax rate by only 0.4%.

Second, what the “average worker” pays in overall personal taxes says little about Giambi. For example, in the US, the SSIA tax is capped and thus slightly regressive. For someone making $100K or less it adds 6.2% to his overall tax rate. For someone making $5 Million, it adds only around 0.1%. I don’t know what the equivalent situation in Canada is.

Third, professional athletes are forced to pay state income tax based on where each game is played, so over half of Giambi’s salary will be taxed at California rates regardless of what he claims as a state of residence.

Lastly, sales tax/GST is (again) much more important proportionally to someone making moderate wages than to someone making a huge amount of money. Giambi would likely be renting a nice furnished condo for 6 or 7 months, leasing a nice car, and buying meals for the roughly half of that time that the Jays are at home, but that will still add up to only a small proportion of the money he’ll be making.

All these things add up, and it may well be the case that he’d end up paying more in Canada. But you haven’t made a very persuasive case for that.

Thanks for tomorrow 'cause I've had enough

by andeux on Jan 7, 2009 10:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What Andeux said

Giambi will be grossing ~$4 million. That means the income tax rate on the top ~$3.7 million of that dwarfs whatever difference there is in sales tax, lower brackets, and all the other stuff.

That’s exactly what I meant to convey in the last paragraph of my original post. Sorry if I didn’t spell it all out.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Jan 7, 2009 3:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps

maybe it was both sides agreeing to that deal due to other moves that Beane is wanting to make still. It would not surprise me in the least if this was Giambi’s way of paying Billy and the A’s back with good will. Giambi at the price he is signing for is an absolute steal. Again, I’m excited to have Jason back in the GNG.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 12:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Also, it's not like Giambi's hurting for money.

Remember that the Yanks had to buy his final year out for more than 5 million this past year so really he will be making closer to 10 million already for the coming season.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 12:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Holy smokes...

$4 million? They should still have some money for a SP or maybe even Adam Dunn.

C – Suzuki
1B – Giambi
2B – Ellis
3B – Chaves
SS – Crosbitch
LF – Dunn
CF – Buck/Sweeney
RF – Holliday
DH – Cust

Look… we all know that someone is going to get hurt. It’s a matter of when. Keeping that in mind, I think bringing Dunn in would give us great depth.

The Twins signed Nick Punto for $4 million!!

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jan 6, 2009 12:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Good point

Hard to believe Nick Punto got that contract, but I guess being small and white has its perks.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2009 1:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

white?

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jan 6, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not Mexican enough, like Chavez

I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.

by franks a lot on Jan 6, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Believe me, if Punto was Latino, he would not have gotten that contract

Racial stereotypes inform MLB teams’ contract decisions, like it or not. Small white guys are stereotyped as “gritty” “gamers” and get paid more than small Latin players, who are stereotyped as “lazy” and “unintelligent.”

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2009 2:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

also this encouraging news from Chavvy

Chavez says he’ll play third: Eric Chavez said his most recent right shoulder surgery went so well that he has “no doubt” he will be able to return to third base, a position at which he has won six Gold Gloves.

Chavez’s shoulder was in such poor shape last season, despite surgery in fall 2007, that there was thought he might have to move to first base, but Chavez said by phone Monday that his rehab has been smooth this time.

“I’m doing everything, and it’s going well,” Chavez said. “I’m throwing at the stadium and that’s feeling really good, and hitting is no problem at all. The last three weeks, everything’s come together. My shoulder feels better than it has in the past 10 years.”

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 12:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I like that song.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Jan 6, 2009 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

but you can't listen to it if your stereo breaks down

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 12:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

the swag has returned in oaktown!!

this team will be fun to watch at least…maybe a redux of those late 90’s teams that will be on the cusp of greatness eventually

still need another bat or two and a pitcher…conservatively i’d say they have at least 10-15mill to spend

by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 6, 2009 12:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I'm just glad

that we got a guy who brings a boatload of World Series exper…oh wait.

There are going to be several Giambi posts, so I’ll just blend in with these random thoughts.

Has it really been seven years since he left? That’s insane; it really is. Seems like only yesterday he was battling Stanton- one of my favorite regular season moments.

Make that four former MVP’s the A’s have brought back home: Reggie, Rickey, Jose, and now Jason. You’re up Miggy. Hell, let’s see if Eck is interested. And I’m guessing Vida Blue has a little left in the tank. He’s barely pushing 60, after all.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Jan 6, 2009 12:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Chuck Berry is 82 and still touring

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 1:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So is Keith Richards

who pre-dates most known recorded dinosaurs.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 1:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sheets or Trade or nothing for me

There is no other FA that I want.

Dunn is a horrible defender and wants to stay in the NL.

Abreu is a worse Dunn, pretty much?

We dont want a multi-year contract for either of them. Save that for Holliday or Bay.

I hate Lowe, screw him, besides he wants to stay East.

I agree with the general consensus that all the other available pitchers are no better than our young guys.

I would, however, take a flier on Mulder.

Mulder, Tejada…..Trade for Hudson at the deadline once the braves bust, and they will.

www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.

by ChadGod on Jan 6, 2009 1:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Fangraphs says Dunn might get 2/20

Even with his terrible defense, that might be a good deal (move Holliday to RF or play Cust in RF and Dunn DH). The A’s biggest competition would be the LOLNats too. It would also allow us to include Sweeney in a deal for Hardy with the Brewers (which would allow the Brew Crew to trade Cameron to NYY). Of course that 10 mil might be better spent on Sheets, but I would think Dunn would be a good Plan B. The problem, of course, is that if LAD doesn’t get Manny, Dunn is their Plan B and Dunn would probably like LA much better than the A’s.

The fan in me also really wants the A’s to sign Mulder on a cheap deal. And I refuse to talk about Tejada as there is absolutely no way for me to be objective about him (straight up for BoCro, please, please, please).

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jan 6, 2009 2:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs