¡VIVA RIVAS!

Shannon Stewart found a new home, the Oakland Athletics. He'll be paid a $1 million base salary, and could make up to $2.5 million with incentives, according to the AP. Stewart expressed frustration at having to work to find a new home this offseason after injuries derailed his last couple seasons with the Twins:

After an offseason filled with doctors' appointments and MRI exams across the country, Stewart has been pain-free for several months and can run at full speed again. It was a little strange for him to be seeking work, practically interviewing for jobs by showing off his skills for different teams.

"It's a weird, frustrating time," Stewart said. "I've been in the big leagues about nine years now and have never had to go through anything like this. It's tough to have to go through it, but I understood. It's been harder on me than anybody else."

The A's made a savvy move by signing Stewart, a disciplined hitter who will take and foul off pitches until he finds one to hit. Considering how much playing time another former Twin, Bobby Kielty, received last year, Stewart is a definite step up offensively for the A's. If the Twins had a White Sox- or even Detroit-sized budget, trying to sign him on in a Lew Ford-type role would have made a lot of sense -- especially with Jason Kubel and Rondell White likely manning LF-DH this year, both of whom are coming off injury-plagued seasons. Not that Lew Ford isn't quality, he covers lots of ground, it's just that, have you seen him hit?