OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Jason Giambi is returning to his professional baseball roots with the Oakland Athletics.

Giambi and the A's finalized a $5.25 million, one-year contract with an option Wednesday, bringing the free-agent designated hitter and first baseman back to the place he began his big league career. The sides had reached a preliminary agreement earlier this week but Giambi still needed to complete the obligatory physical for the deal to get done.

Giambi, who turns 38 on Thursday, follows a line of aging and injury-prone designated hitters in recent years with the A's - Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, Mike Sweeney and then Thomas again. Giambi also could play some first base to give Daric Barton a break from time to time.

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