A's Cut Ties With 1B Barton Among Moves
OAKLAND (CBS Sports) -- The Oakland Athletics have designated first baseman Daric Barton for assignment, reports Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Barton saw the move coming, saying: "You've got to be making a lot of money to get away with having the spring I had."
Barton, 27, hit .206 in camp. He was acquired from the Cardinals as part of the Mark Mulder trade in December, 2004. He appeared to break out and entrench his place in the big leagues in 2010 when he hit .273/.393/.405 (120 OPS+) with 10 homers and a league-leading 110 walks in 159 games.
Shoulder problems, including a torn labrum in the left and a strain in the right, hampered Barton the last two years. He hit .209/.329/.275 (71 OPS+) in 113 games with the A's from 2011-12 while also spending time in Triple-A. The former catcher grades out well defensively at first base, but Brandon Moss' emergence made Barton expendable in the wake of his injuries and ineffectiveness.
Oakland also designated left-hander Travis Blackley for assignment. Left-hander Jordan Norberto was optioned to Triple-A, and right-handers Josh Stinson and Danny Otero were claimed off waivers.
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