SAN DIEGO, June 1 (UPI) -- A pinch-hit, RBI double Saturday turned out to be the final at bat for Matt Williams as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The team designated the veteran third baseman for assignment Sunday to make room on the roster for Shea Hillenbrand, who was acquired Thursday from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Byung-Hyun Kim.
The Diamondbacks will have 10 days to trade or release the 37-year-old Williams, but will have to pay his $10 million salary for 2003.
Williams delivered an RBI double in a three-run eighth inning Saturday to help the Diamondbacks erase a 6-4 deficit, but the San Diego Padres scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to pull out an 8-7 victory.
The last member from the franchise's inaugural season in 1998, Williams was hitting .246 with four home runs and 16 RBI in 44 games this year.
In November, the Diamondbacks agreed to send Williams to Colorado on a package deal for outfielder Larry Walker, but both Williams and Walker invoked their no-trade clauses.
Williams played in just 60 games last season due to a stress fracture in his foot and hit .260 with 12 homers and 40 RBI. He has 378 homers and 1,218 RBI in 17 major league seasons.
