After a career-worst season in his one year with the A's, David DeJesus is headed for Chicago to become the Cubs' every day right fielder.
According to the national reports, the deal is for two years, 10 million. DeJesus made 6 million with the A's in 2011.
The A's offered arbitration to DeJesus, the Type B free agent, which means his signing with another team lands the A's a sandwich pick (compensatory pick in the sandwich round between rounds one and two).
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DeJesus, 31, hit a meager .240 in 2011, after never having hit below .260 in eight years with the Royals. The outfielder was brought in to play right field and bat third, but a mediocre season at the plate forced A's managers to shuffle the lineup.
Among DeJesus, Josh Willingham and Coco Crisp, the A's could lose their entire 2011 starting outfield to free agency. Willingham has been designated a modified Type A free agent. Instead of receiving a first-round pick from the team that signs him, the A's will a pick immediately preceding his new team's first-round pick along with the normal supplemental first-round pick.
Billy Beane and the A's front office have remained firm this offseason that they will not be negotiating contracts with players until they have heard the verdict from the MLB regarding their proposed relocation to San Jose.
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DeJesus was brought in to Oakland in November of last year in a trade that sent starting pitcher Vin Mazzaro to Kansas City.
"Going to Oakland, they've got great pitching, and if we can get some bats over there, I think it'll be an exciting year," DeJesus said last year. "They play the game right, and it seemed like if they can get some bats, they could be right in it."
Oakland Athletics
They weren't, and now DeJesus is headed for Chicago.