TORONTO -- When Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi entered this offseason, Frank Thomas wasn't necessarily on his radar. Toronto needed a solution for its designated-hitter role, but adding Thomas didn't seem realistic at the time.
"Honestly, he's a guy we've always liked, but we didn't think we'd have a chance at a guy like this," said Ricciardi, speaking from his home in Worcester, Mass., on Friday. "We thought it was pretty cut and dry that he was going to go back to Oakland."
That was until Thomas expressed interest in the Blue Jays. That got Ricciardi thinking about how much more prolific his offense could be with the 6-foot-5, 275-pound slugger swinging from the cleanup spot. Now, The Big Hurt is heading north.
Toronto officially announced Friday that it had signed Thomas to a two-year deal worth $18 million that includes a vesting option for 2009. The two-time American League Most Valuable Player is scheduled to make $9 million in each of the next two seasons.
The option year is contingent on Thomas reaching 1,050 plate appearances over the next two years or 525 plate appearances in the second year of the contract. If he reaches those marks, Ricciardi said he'd have no issues with bringing Thomas back for a third season.
Frank Thomas batted .270 with 39 home runs and 114 RBIs in his lone season in Oakland. (Ben Margot/AP)
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Big signing: Jays ink Thomas
Big signing: Jays ink Thomas
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