Editing Mike Piazza (section)

===Oakland Athletics===
Piazza signed as a free agent with the [[Oakland Athletics]] for $8.5 million on December 8, 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2688662} |title=Piazza joins A's, who also add Embree |date=December 6, 2006 |website=ESPN |access-date=April 5, 2025}}</ref> He exclusively played at [[designated hitter]] with the Athletics.

On July 25, 2007, in the top of the ninth inning in a game between the [[2007 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season|Angels]] and Athletics at [[Angel Stadium of Anaheim|Angel Stadium]], a fan threw a water bottle that hit Piazza, who had homered earlier in the game. Piazza pointed his bat in the stands at the fan he believed threw the water bottle to get the attention of security. The fan, who was identified as Roland Flores from [[La Puente, California]], was arrested by the ballpark security. Piazza pressed charges against Flores,<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2949665 ESPN – Piazza to press charges against fan who threw bottle – MLB<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and Flores was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years of probation on March 27, 2008. On September 26, against the [[Boston Red Sox]] at [[Fenway Park]], Piazza hit his 427th and what would be his final major league home run of his career, off of rookie pitcher [[Jon Lester]].

After not being signed to any MLB team for the [[2008 MLB season|2008 season]], Piazza announced his retirement on May 20, 2008, saying, "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it is time to start a new chapter in my life. It has been an amazing journey."<ref name="espn3405188">{{cite news| url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3405188 | title=Piazza, one of greatest hitting catchers in MLB history, retires | agency=[[Associated Press]] | date=May 20, 2008 | access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref>