A's Select RHP Otero from Sacramento; Option LHP Okajima to Sacramento

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland A's selected right-handed pitcher Dan Otero from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned left-handed pitcher Hideki Okajima to Sacramento, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's transferred Brett Anderson to the 60-day disabled list.

Otero was 1-0 with a 0.99 ERA and .147 opponents batting average at Sacramento where he is a perfect 15-for-15 in save opportunities. He did not allow a home run in 27.1 innings and issued just one walk while striking out 22. The 28-year-old right-hander is tied for second in the Pacific Coast League in saves and leads PCL relievers in opponents batting average and fewest walks per nine innings. Otero was with San Francisco this spring but was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees March 26. The Yankees designated him for assignment the next day and the A's claimed him and optioned him to Sacramento March 29. He was designated for assignment by the A's April 5 and was sent outright to Sacramento April 7. Otero made his Major League debut with the Giants last year, posting a 5.84 ERA and .358 opponents batting average in 12 relief appearances over three stints.

Okajima was selected from Sacramento May 17, but appeared in just five games for the A's. He logged a 2.25 ERA and .368 opponents batting average. Okajima began the season with the River Cats, where he was 0-1 with a 2.16 ERA and .193 opponents batting average in 14 games.