Ex-Sox Rowand Designated For Assignment By Giants
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Outfielder Aaron Rowand and infielder Miguel Tejada have been designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants, a major shake-up for the stumbling defending World Series champions.
The Giants made the moves Wednesday, when they began the day trailing first-place Arizona by a season-high six games in the NL West race.
Rowand, the team's second-highest paid player behind pitcher Barry Zito, is making $12 million this season and was due the same for 2012. He was batting .233 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 108 games.
Tejada received a $6.5 million, one-year free agent deal in December to join the Giants. He was batting .239 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 91 games. A 15-year big league veteran, he won the 2002 AL MVP across San Francisco Bay with the Oakland Athletics.
"I just thank them for the opportunity," Tejada said in a brief phone interview. Asked if he saw the move coming, he said: "I don't pay attention, I just try to play baseball."
Rowand had cleaned out his locker by late Wednesday morning. "Nothing to comment on," he said as he left.
Both players had spent time on the disabled list this season.
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