Piazza agrees to DH for A's

Originally Posted by ESPN

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Mike Piazza's days as a catcher in the National League appear to be over.

The former Mets, Dodgers, Marlins and Padres backstop agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Oakland Athletics to become their designated hitter.

Piazza, who replaces Frank Thomas as the team's DH, decided between an offer from the A's and one from the Texas Rangers. Texas dropped out of the mix earlier Wednesday.

This will be Piazza's first time playing in the American League after spending the first 15 years of his big league career in the NL as a catcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets and San Diego Padres.

Piazza, who would be the No. 3 catcher for the A's behind starter Jason Kendall and backup Adam Melhuse, batted .283 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 126 games in 2006 for the NL West champion Padres, his lone season in San Diego.

Thomas agreed to an $18.12 million, two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays last month. The 38-year-old Big Hurt batted .270 and led the A's with 39 homers and 114 RBI this year.

Oakland also agreed to a two-year contract with left-handed reliever Alan Embree. Financial terms of the deal are not known.

The 36-year-old Embree went 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA in a career-high 73 outings for the NL West champion San Diego Padres in 2006, his 13th major league season. It was the eighth straight season he made at least 60 appearances.

Embree's contract also includes a team option for the 2009 season. He will upgrade an already strong bullpen for the defending AL West champions and could replace Joe Kennedy, who might be in the starting rotation.

With Embree, the A's will have seven players under contract beyond next season.