LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Catcher Mike Piazza Wednesday signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics.
The 39-year-old Piazza will primarily be the Athletics' designated hitter, after Frank Thomas signed a free-agent deal with Toronto last month.
MLB.com reported at the Winter Baseball Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., that Piazza will earn $8 million to $9 million.
"We need a right-handed bat and we need one in the middle of the order," said A's General Manager Billy Beane. "A guy like Piazza fits that bill if we are able to bring it to conclusion. We are intrigued by what this guy can do if he just goes out and hits."
Piazza spent the 2006 season with San Diego, batting .283 with 22 homers and 68 RBI.
The 12-time all-Star has a .309 career batting average with 419 home runs -- the most ever by a catcher -- and 1,291 RBI.
