A's designate righty Neshek for assignment

DETROIT -- Among a flurry of moves for the A's on Monday was the loss of righty Pat Neshek, who was designated for assignment one day after making a 44-pitch relief appearance in Baltimore.

The transaction was necessary to make room on the 40-man roster for Daric Barton, who was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to help out at first base, with Brandon Moss now needed in right field after Josh Reddick (right wrist) was placed on the disabled list. The A's also recalled right-hander Evan Scribner from Sacramento.

"We do potentially need some length here, and with him going 44 pitches, he wasn't going to be a factor for at least a couple of days, so we needed to get Evan Scribner up here," manager Bob Melvin said.

The A's have 10 days to trade, release or pass Neshek through waivers and outright him to Triple-A. He was 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA and .265 opponents' average in 41 relief appearances, logging a 2.10 ERA over the first 29 before struggling to the tune of a 6.75 ERA in his final 12 games.

"Obviously that's a tough one," Melvin said. "He's meant a lot to this team. Not only what he's done on the field, but inspirationally. We just feel like he's part of this team even though he's not here right now."

Neshek enjoyed one of the best and perhaps most emotional outings of his career last year during the American League Division Series, giving the A's two crucial outs in Detroit just days after the death of his infant son, Gehrig John.

Scribner, meanwhile, joins the A's for a fourth time this year. He last appeared for the A's on Aug. 4, when he allowed one hit in one scoreless inning against the Rangers. In 29 appearances with Sacramento, he has a 2.32 ERA and .199 opponents' average.