Piazza agrees with A's; Bonds loses another destination

Updated: December 7, 2006, 11:48 AM ET
SportsTicker

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida -- After a 15-year career in the National League, Mike Piazza has decided it's finally time to live it up as a designated hitter in the American League. For Barry Bonds, his options just became more limited.

Piazza reached an agreement Wednesday with the Oakland Athletics, pending a physical, and the organization was hoping to make the announcement official by the end of the week.

The Athletics struggled offensively for much of last season and then lost designated hitter Frank Thomas - far and away their best power hitter - to free agency last month.

His signing also eliminates another possible destination for Bonds, the free agent slugger chasing Hank Aaron's all-time home run mark. Oakland was a possibility for the seven-time MVP, who has played across the bay in San Francisco for the last 14 years.

Bonds was in town early Wednesday before heading back to Los Angeles in the evening. His agent, Jeff Borris, met with San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean.

Piazza, who always has been overmatched defensively as a catcher, will slide into the DH role with the A's.

One of the greatest offensive catchers in baseball history, Piazza hit .283 with 22 homers and 68 RBIs with the San Diego Padres this past season. He became the 41st player in major league history to reach 400 home runs on April 26 and is the all-time leader with 396 career home runs as a catcher.

Piazza spent his previous eight seasons with the New York Mets, helping them reach the World Series in 2000. He recorded career highs of 40 home runs and 124 RBIs with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1997 and matched those totals with the Mets two years later.

A 12-time All-Star and two-time MVP runner-up, Piazza owns a career average of .309 in 15 seasons with the Dodgers, Florida Marlins, Mets and Padres. He was the NL Rookie of the Year with Los Angeles in 1993 and won All-Star Game MVP honors in 1996.

Piazza was expected to sign with an American League team last offseason but surprised many by signing with the Padres. He did not play any first base for San Diego after experimenting there the previous season.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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