Just fine at home

By Chrys Kefalas CPKSports.com Editor-in-Chief

You've read the seemingly daily reports coming out of New York and from other members of the national press. From the New York Times reporting Sunday that the Yankees would complete a deal with Jason Giambi that night to ESPN.com's Jason Stark suggesting that a Yankees-Giambi deal was inevitable, drawing any other conclusion, that Giambi will sign elsewhere, seems rather farfetched.

The Yankees are making a Mussina-esque push to sign the most coveted free agent in this year's class. Yankee players have spoken to Giambi and expressed their enthusiasm about having him join a perennial Championship team. Joe Torre contacted the 2000 American League MVP and told him personally that the Yankees would concede to his demand, allowing Giambi to play first base. Above all, owner George Steinbrenner has opened the bank once again, putting forth a seven-year offer between $112 million and $119 million.

It appears that with Jason Giambi's return from a vacation in Hawaii, the pinstripes and a celebratory press conference are just formalities.

Yet, for a franchise trying to create their own dynasty without the mega-resources of the Yankees, Oakland may still have a chance; a slim, but perhaps an increasing hope as contract talks draw out, trying their own ninth inning comeback against improbable odds.

We all learned that Mariano Rivera is beatable, maybe the Yankees free agent full court press is too.

The A's won't match the Yankees monetarily, they simply can't. At most, the Athletics may add another year to their six-year $91 million offer; bringing the total offer in the neighborhood of $107 million.

Still, Jason Giambi is a native Californian and lives in Oakland and unlike last year's major Yankee signee, Mike Mussina, he would not leave an organization in disarray, but one with a tremendous future ahead if he stays on board. Not even the Yankees can guarantee a rotation led by Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito.

He's the A's clubhouse leader. He's a critical cog, one of the guys, in a close-knit clubhouse where he's respected and revered as their central force.

Giambi also has another reason to stay, call it the X-factor, younger brother Jeremy Giambi. The Oakland A's traded for the once heralded prospect of the Kansas City Royals farm system before last season and he produced, batting primarily in front of his brother in the two hole, Jeremy hit .286 with 12 homeruns and 57 RBI in 371 at bats.

Can these factors pull out the upset victory? Well, it all depends on what Jason wants.

"It would be tough leaving here because we've really got a family atmosphere, like 25 brothers on one team," he told reporters during the Division series. "But you know, the thing is, you grow up and things change. It would definitely be a sad day if I left, but the most important thing is winning."

For other recent big name free agents,lured by Steinbrenner, the Yankees were the clear choice. The big-money contract was there and the team offered a future of winning quite unlike what they could attain anywhere else. That was the case for Mike Mussina, that was the case for Rogers Clemens, but for Jason Giambi?

Oakland's a team that can compete and win at even New York's level with Jason Giambi. If he decides to choose New York over his current team, no public relations effort will hide that the decision was made with dead presidents in mind, the driving force.

But, if Giambi is truly out of the McGwire mold, than the money factor will not determine his decision. Rather, he will finally tell his agent Arn Tellem, "I want to stay home, I want to stay an Oakland Athletic, I can win here, and I can win now."

It's the bottom of the ninth, two outs, a runner in scoring position, and Oakland A's general manager now steps up the plate.

Here's betting the Yankees get the loss. A's win.

Article courtesy of CPKSports.com