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Thomas lifts A`s to meet Twins

When the Oakland A`s meet the Minnesota Twins Tuesday for the first game of the AL Division Series, keep an eye on the hard-hitting, 38 year-old Frank Thomas. After celebrating the World Series win last year with the Chicago White Sox, a series he missed due to an injury, the slugger parted with his team of 16 years. A free-agent contract with the Twins was almost signed, before the "Big Hurt" moved to Oakland instead.

Having played only 108 games in the final two seasons in Chicago, and recovering from a major ankle injury, the Twins had their reservations about Thomas` play on the artificial Astroturf. Instead Thomas went West, and signed a one-year deal with the Athletics worth $500,000 plus an additional $2.6 million in performance bonuses and incentives. He has earned his bonuses by hitting 39 home runs this season as designated hitter, along with 114 RBIs.

So was it a good deal for both teams? The Twins who passed on Thomas have made it as far as the a`s have, but only one winner will emerge sometime next week from this match-up. Both teams have a chance to go to the World Series. For Thomas, it will be a sweet moment, to get closer to a second championship ring, and with 487 career home-runs, to the 500 mark as well.