Giambi impressed with a league-leading .372 batting average for the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in 1998. But although the retirement of first baseman Jeff King opened up a spot with the major-league club, Giambi was hindered by inconsistency and hamstring problems, and shuttled between the minors and Kansas City until a February 2000 deal sent him to Oakland for pitcher Brett Laxton.
The trade reunited Giambi with his older brother, Jason, one of Oakland’s most valuable sluggers. (As Giambi the Elder turned in an MVP season, GM Billy Beane dubbed his younger sibling “Mini-G.”) The pair became only the second set of brothers to play for the club after Jose and Ozzie Canseco both donned A’s uniforms in 1990.