Jason Giambi wants to be Peter Pan as he returns to the A's

January 8, 3:22 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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              Jason Giambi, the once and future Athletic

At the press conference to announce his return to the Oakland A's after a seven year stint with the New York Yankees, Jason Giambi showed off his uniform shirt with the number 16 emblazoned on it.

It was his number through the 2001 season after which he was lured away from Oakland to New York for an astounding sum at that time of $120 million over seven years.

Considering inflation it is not dissimilar from the deals for CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeria.

He is reportedly in great shape, re-growing the scruffy look he was deprived of in New York and provokes feelings in Billy Beane that are almost creepy. At the same press conference the A's GM said:

At the risk of going on too long and telling everybody how much I love you, Jason, I feel like I'm marrying my ex-wife.

I guess Beane doesn't hold grudges and longs for the old days like Giambi. Drafted in 1992 by the club Giambi became an All Star and league MVP before running from his native state for the big money and the pinstripes.

Within two years he was disgraced after he admitted he had taken HGH and designer steroids supplied by BALCO.

He took his lumps when he came out to face the press after his supposedly secret grand jury testimony was leaked. He crawled back into the fans' good graces by hitting more than 30 dingers three out of the next four seasons despite injuries and the inevitable slow-down due to him hitting his mid-thirties.

But to take a pay cut like he did ($ 5.35 million in total compensation for 2009 and a club option for 2010 at $6.5 million) and seem jovial about being compared to Billy Beane's ex-wife just tells me he wants to have fun again.

It will feel good not to have the pressure of living up to expectations brought about by a huge salary and a relentless New York tabloid press corps. Not that he would give the money back.

So grow that beard Jason and get on with your baseball rejuvenation. And welcome back to California.

Photo credit: D. Ross Cameron/Staff

Tony DeMarcoand Alex Brown cover baseball for examiner.com