A's DFA Morales less than 2 months after acquiring him
The Oakland Athletics designated first baseman/DH Kendrys Morales for assignment less than two months after trading for him, the team announced on Monday.
Oakland made the move to open a roster spot for Mark Canha, who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and will return for Monday's game in Seattle.
The A's acquired Morales from the Toronto Blue Jays just before the league-wide Opening Day after Matt Olson was hurt during Oakland's season-opening games in Japan, with Toronto picking up about $10-million of the veteran's $12-million salary.
Though he proved surprisingly capable while filling in for Olson at first base - his first time as an everyday defender in almost a decade - Morales struggled with the bat, posting a .569 OPS with just one homer in 126 plate appearances for the A's.
The combination of his offensive struggles and Olson, Canha, and regular DH Khris Davis (who had missed a few games because of a hip issue) getting healthy meant there was no more playing time available for Morales.
"Maybe he didn't put up great numbers, but ... this is a terrific teammate," manager Bob Melvin told MLB Network Radio on Monday. "Yesterday he didn't play, and there was a lot of speculation about him going away, and all he's doing (in the dugout) is rooting for every guy we have on every pitch. ... Just a great guy to have on a team.
"Somebody's gonna pick him up, I know that."
The 35-year-old Cuban has hit 212 homers during his 13-year career, and he won the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award in 2015.
Oakland now has seven days to trade, waive, or release Morales.