Angels Trade Third Baseman Callaspo To Oakland

   OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland General Manager Billy Beane was looking to shore up his infield, both offensively and defensively.

He got what he was looking for in Alberto Callaspo.

The Athletics acquired Callaspo from AL West rival Los Angeles Angels for infield prospect Grant Green on Tuesday night.

"We needed some infield help, particularly somebody who could help swing it from the right side," Beane said. "Just a little bit of a hedge at every position and help from the right side against left-handed pitching."

Callaspo was removed from the Angels game against the Texas Rangers after the fourth inning on Tuesday night. Green was a late scratch from Triple-A Sacramento's lineup.

"We're pretty thin infield-wise when you start thinking about the fact that we've played Josh (Donaldson), it seems like, almost every inning of every game," Beane said. "We were in a situation where we needed another infielder."

Callaspo was hitting .253 with five home runs and 36 RBIs entering Tuesday. He will back up Donaldson and also play second base for the A's. Callaspo, who has been solely a third baseman for three seasons, last played second in 2010.

"I spoke to Alberto tonight and mentioned the fact that he's going to be over there," Beane said. "The good thing is he's played a lot of it in the past but there's no question there's been a little bit of a void the last couple of years."

The 30-year-old Callaspo is hitting .253 with 42 homers and 293 RBIs in an eight-year career with Arizona, Kansas City and the Angels.

The A's first round draft pick in 2009, Green was hitless in 15 at-bats, with an RBI, during his first stint in the major leagues this season. The 25-year-old infielder was hitting .325 at Sacramento.

The New York Yankees were also reportedly interested in Callapso.

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