Wary of keeping a moody former superstar who barely managed to play in 100 games the past two seasons, the White Sox cut 1B/DH Frank Thomas loose this autumn. Recognizing that Thomas’ 12 HR’s in something like 11 AB’s last season might indicate he’s not totally washed up, the bargain hunting Oakland A’s have signed the often Hurting Big Hurt to a one-year deal.

If the middle of the Oakland batting order features Thomas, Eric Chavez and Milton Bradley for an entire season, they might set some new team records. Like, for instance, the most combined strikeouts by any A’s trio in history.