Olson released to pursue chance to play in Korea

PHOENIX -- The A's released non-roster reliever Garrett Olson on Saturday so that he can pursue an opportunity to pitch in Korea.

The left-handed Olson, slowed early in camp by a sore hamstring, made five appearances for the A's this spring, allowing two runs with four strikeouts in a combined five innings. He was likely to start the year at Triple-A Sacramento.

Olson, 29, heads to East Asia after spending parts of each of the last six seasons in the Majors with the Orioles, Mariners, Pirates and Mets. He is 14-22 with a 6.26 ERA in 104 career appearances, many of which came in 2008, when he made 26 starts with the Orioles. He pitched in just five big league games, all in relief, over the last two seasons.

With Olson out of the mix, the A's have 45 players in camp, including 13 relievers.