Their old designated hitter is taking a 2,255-mile leap, about as far as you can go between Major League cities. But the Oakland A's may not look nearly as far for their new DH.

Try, across The Bay. Frank Thomas' signing with the Toronto Blue Jays sparked instant speculation that Oakland GM Billy Beane was suddenly very interested in embracing an erstwhile member of the San Francisco Giants.

But maybe not the first one that springs to mind. While Barry Bonds suddenly seemed a very good fit in Oakland, the San Francisco Chronicle reports that "a club source said it probably won't happen."

Meanwhile, Moises Alou has beeped on the A's radar. In fact, Oakland assistant GM David Forst confirmed to Bay Area reporters that his club had spoken with Alou's representative.

While any such talks would be in the preliminary stage, given that the wound of Thomas' departure is so fresh, the opportunity that has opened up in Oakland would appear to scuttle another report that had Alou already sewn up by the Mets.

A report out of Alou's native Dominican Republic on the Hispanic web site Listin Diario said the outfielder would soon formally sign a 2007 contract with the National League runner-ups for $8 million.

Elsewhere among the weekend Hot Stove embers ...

Astros and Orioles: The two disparate franchises may be setting up to fight over multiple high-impact free agents. The Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros have made multiyear offers to both Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee, and the Chicago Tribune chimes in that they and the Birds "appear to be the only teams" pursuing both.

Angels: Their high-end shopping list appears set, and while Soriano tops it -- with the Los Angeles Times reporting an offer already having been made to him for $14 million annually for either five or six years -- it includes other big names.

Also according to the Times, the Angels have renewed interest in former Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew for their center-field vacancy, and have also extended an offer to left-hander Barry Zito.

Dodgers: Drew's former club is reportedly close enough to retaining Nomar Garciaparra with a two-year deal for GM Ned Colletti to comment on the ongoing negotiations.

"We are close to a deal with Nomar, not there yet, but close," Colletti told the Los Angeles Times.

According to the same newspaper, the Dodgers are also in the scrum for Soriano, and his agent's response to their inquiry would seem to confirm that the former Washington left fielder will make the biggest killing this offseason. The price quoted the Dodgers was seven years for $120 million -- $1 million more than the deal given to Carlos Beltran by the Mets two winters ago.