"The A's officially introduced new outfielder/designated hitter Jonny Gomes on a conference call Thursday, and Gomes, who'd agreed to a one year, $1 million deal on Monday, said he's excited to be part of the "real good buzz" around Bay Area sports these days.

Gomes, who is from Petaluma, noted that he's spent seven seasons in the big leagues, but it's only now that he's joined a local team that "everyone is like, 'Oh, you do play.' "

Gomes said he's not concerned about the Coliseum's reputation as a pitcher's park, because "I'm a guy who, when I get it, it's going to go."

He has homered at every American League park except Chicago, and, he said, "Hopefully I'll get that one off the board."

Gomes, whose offseason workout partner in Arizona is former A's second baseman Mark Ellis, said his main goal is to stay healthy. He's had only one trip to the disabled list in his career, for a rotator cuff impingement in 2006.

Assistant general manager David Forst said that, considering how many left-handed hitters the A's have, "I don't think there will be any shortage of at-bats" for the right-handed Gomes. Forst also said that, based on reports and defensive metrics, the A's believe that Gomes has improved as an outfielder in the past year."