The A’s are signing first baseman Eric Thames to a minor league contract, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). It’s a homecoming of sorts for the 35-year-old, who is a San Jose native.
Thames has appeared in the big leagues in parts of six seasons. He debuted with the Blue Jays in 2011, then split the following campaign between Toronto and the Mariners. Thames didn’t make it back to the majors in 2013, instead spending the year in Triple-A with the M’s and Orioles. Over the 2013-14 offseason, the left-handed hitter made the jump to South Korea, signing with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization.
It was a masterful pick-up by the Dinos, for whom Thames blossomed into an instant superstar. He spent three seasons with the Changwon-based club, popping 37 or more home runs with an OPS north of 1.100 in each. The KBO was a hitter-friendly league, but Thames’ production was outrageous even after putting it into context. That was particularly true in 2015, when the Pepperdine University product hit .381/.497/.790 with 47 homers and 40 stolen bases. That output at the plate was an incredible 116 points above the KBO league average, by measure of wRC+, and he was awarded the MVP that year.
After dominating in the KBO, Thames set his sights on a return to the majors. He was a high-profile target during the 2016-17 offseason, eventually landing a three-year, $16MM guarantee with the Brewers. Milwaukee got a solid return on that investment, as Thames continued to produce at an above-average level (albeit nowhere near his otherworldly KBO numbers) with the Brew Crew.
He hit 31 homers and posted an overall .247/.359/.518 line over 551 plate appearances in his return season. That’d be his most productive year in Milwaukee, although his combined .236/.331/.495 line between 2018-19 still checked in 12 points above average (112 wRC+). Thames increasingly struggled with strikeouts, but he also drew plenty of walks and proved a consistent power threat.
After his contract with the Brewers expired, Thames inked a one-year guarantee with the Nationals that also included a 2021 club option. He stumbled to a .203/.300/.317 mark during the shortened season, and Washington bought him out. Thames made the jump back to Asia — this time to Japan — last winter, signing with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. Unfortunately, he ruptured an Achilles in his first game with the Giants and missed the rest of the season.
Thames now returns to affiliated ball, hoping to earn his way back into the majors. Presumably, he’ll get a chance to report to MLB Spring Training and compete for a spot on an A’s roster that could find itself in flux. Matt Olson is a potential trade candidate, as Oakland is reportedly looking to cut payroll after the lockout. Even if Olson sticks around, Thames could work his way into the designated hitter or corner outfield mix. Mitch Moreland and Jed Lowrie took the bulk of DH playing time last season, but they’re each free agents. Seth Brown and Chad Pinder could be in consideration for DH at-bats, but they look likely to platoon in left field to replace Mark Canha at the moment.
He just came back from Japan not Korea so idk if he roided up for the season.
*facepalm*
*hands highest IQ a tinfoil hat and then facepalms myself* Highest IQ, is a understatement
He had only 1 good season cuz he was using roids in Korea. That’s just fact.
Or maybe he just started working out more and changed his lifestyle up to further his career playing the game he loves?
You’re beyond stupid. That’s just fact. Sit down
You’re beyond mad. That’s just fact. Sit down.
No risk deal, let’s see what’s left in the tank and if he has a nice season, he can get traded for prospects or just keep him around.
He will return to a good player, get moved at deadline and stink. A’s Way
This is the way
Article States: Unfortunately, he ruptured an Achilles in his first game with the Giants and missed the rest of the season.
From the Baseball Reference page, it says he played in 10 games for the Yomiuri Giants. So, if he raptured it in the first game and missed the rest of the season, how did he play 9 additional games?
Good old fashioned American grit.
One game in the NPB majors, nine in their minors.
https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/83785153.html
For Eric it’s the Thame old song.
Watch Thames hit 30+ Homers and be an All Star in Oakland
Dude should have been in the Royal Rumble. He’s jacked…
He does have a really nice beard.
He’s probably the replacement once Olson gets traded to the Yankees.
Thames isn’t replacing Olsen. He’ll be lucky to land a starting gig at all. He’s 34 and hasn’t been MLB good in over two years. He’s a wildcard, not a plan A.
It’s the A’s, Thames will probably be the starting 1B next year.
You got it all wrong lol. A’s will use him as a DH to replace Lowrie. Olson is not being moved. The asking price is too high for most teams.
It’s the A’s? From where I sit, the A’s consistently field a competitive team. Call them cheap, but they’re not known for throwing scrubs out there. Not that Thames is a scrub, but he’s unlikely to be a cromulent MLB starter this year.
so what your saying is he’s probably the replacement for Olson when he’s dealt?
love this guy
Every time I see Marcus or Eric Thames I have to google them to figure out who was who, when they really didn’t play in the same time at all. Very annoying. I think that’s what confused me is Marcus’ career ended when Eric’s started, then all of a sudden the name is pronounced different. Then all of a sudden that name Thames is making a comeback and you remember Thames but don’t remember which one and you end up googling the names again… and there stats are scary close. The two of them don’t know the stress they’ve caused me.
Heh. Imagine being a Mets fan back when there were two guys named Bobby Jones on the team.
Goodbye sweet Olson
If they’re trying to replace Olson they’re gonna have to do a lot better than a 34 year old who wasn’t even in the majors last year.
the A’s just let their manager go for nothing. I doubt anyone expects them to contend this year.
A’s supporter I’m onboard with this welcome to the Oakland A’s .
He fits into the budget. What more is there to say……
He’s a decent flier option. If he’s 100% healthy he could do very well again.
The new Scott Hatteberg.
“Tell him Wash”…
“It’s incredibly hard.”
“What’s that? Drug tests are bypassed because of the CBA right now? Well, then, yes! Absolutely sign Thames!”
brucenewton: That’s a very different can of proverbial worms there: Thames can fake it in the outfield as well whereas Hatteberg was a former catcher. Thames also has massive platoon splits and struggles against LHP while providing considerable power at the plate.
Seems like the A’s will get a right handed 1B as part of the return for Olson. He will then platoon with Eric Thames. I’m guessing either Luke Voit or Bobby Dalbec but I doubt Chaim Bloom will trade away any prospects or young MLB talent for a another leftie who’s salary will increase. They seem to be playing money ball just like the Rays.
I don’t think Thames has a spot in the lineup locked in just yet. Olson or not, Thames is a guy who is gonna have to make the roster first.
I initially thought Voit would be in the return for Olson if the Yankees completed a trade with them. Now? I really don’t think the A’s would take Voit even at the $5M he’s due. I see them going cheaper or finding a prospect they can transfer there, ie, Austin Wells or similar.
That said, I don’t see the Yankees getting Olson at this point, especially with the recent comments from Cashman about keeping Volpe, Peraza, & Dominguez. Just my thoughts.
Gil wells cabrera Waldichunk boom bam deal done
Not sure I’d read too much into what Cash said.
1.) Cash lies. All the time. (I’ve made peace with it.)
2.) The man’s job is essentially some bizarre high stakes poker game. Nobody blink! (Thus the “dishonesty.”)
I remain pretty excited to see what Cash is going to do. He was really disciplined going into the lockout. But: his deadline showed he’s willing to acknowledge & correct his mistakes. That’s good! I don’t think he’s done with this roster, Clip.
Just further proof that the A’s are definitely trading Olson. Percentage went from 90% to 95%. As the Hawk would say, “He Gone.”
Nah, Thames is going to be the DH to replace Lowrie.
I don’t see Olson being traded at all.
Gone. Like. The. Wind.
Thames’ elbow pad is the shining example of why MLB should regulate, if not banish, hitters wearing elbow pads. Hitters have a massive advantage when taking a fastball off the elbow is no longer a concern – the “inside pitch” is far less threatening.
Huh? Let’s see where this is going…
Thames in 2022 with Oakland:
.314 48 HR 127 RBI