A's designate Powell and Miller for assignment

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland A’s designated catcher Landon Powell and outfielder Jai Miller for assignment, the club announced today.  The moves were necessary to clear space on the 40-man roster following today’s trade.

Powell spent nearly the entire 2011 season with Oakland but appeared in just 36 games as the back-up to catcher Kurt Suzuki, batting .171 with a home run and four RBI.  He also hit .283 with a home run and five RBI in 12 games with Triple-A Sacramento from Aug. 22 to Sept. 9.  The 29-year-old Powell has appeared in 123 games over the last three years with Oakland and has been on the active roster for all but seven weeks.

Miller went 3 for 12 (.250) with a home run and two RBI in seven games with the A’s last year during a September call-up.  He spent the balance of the season with Sacramento where he batted .276 with 32 home runs and 88 RBI in 110 games.  The 26-year old ranked second in the Pacific Coast League in home runs, fourth in slugging (.588) and tied for seventh in extra base hits (60).