OAKLAND -- The A's optioned slumping outfielder Mark Canha to Triple-A Nashville to get additional playing time and work out the kinks in his swing.
Canha was batting just .105 with only two hits in six games while playing almost exclusively against left-handed pitching. Because Oakland hasn't faced many lefties this season -- Canha has just 19 at-bats with four starts in right field -- the decision was made to send him to the Minors.
"We just felt like Mark needed to play on a consistent basis," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Just playing against lefties and being out basically the entire year last year, the better part of it, he needs to go down and get some consistent at-bats.
"I have no doubt he'll be back. But I don't feel like we were doing him any good playing once every third or fourth day for a couple of at-bats."
Jaff Decker, who hit .387 in the spring, was called up from Nashville to replace Canha. Additionally, the A's transferred Jake Smolinski to the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot for Decker on the 40-man roster.
Decker started in center field in Oakland's 10-6 loss to the Astros on Saturday in place of Rajai Davis and batted eighth. In his first game with the A's, he recorded two singles, a triple, an RBI and a stolen base.

"When we were looking to see who would replace Mark, it was pretty easy to identify him," Melvin said. "Decker can play all three outfield spots. He's not just here to sit around. He's going to get a lot of time and deservedly so."
Decker was notified of the move late Friday night and arrived in Oakland around midnight.