OAKLAND, Calif., May 4 (UPI) -- The Oakland Athletics have re-acquired outfielder Jack Cust from the San Diego Padres.
He will fill the void created by the loss of Mike Piazza, who suffered strained ligaments in his right shoulder in the sixth inning in Wednesday's game at Boston.
The 39-year-old Piazza has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, but is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Cust, 28, had played in Oakland's farm system since 2004.
"Jack's been in the organization before," Oakland assistant general manager David Forst told the Oakland Tribune. "He probably deserved a substantial shot at major league at-bats a long time ago. Hopefully, we can give him that opportunity now."
Cust has played in a handful of major league games with the Padres, Arizona, Colorado and Baltimore.
In 144 at-bats in the majors, he has an average of .222 with five home runs and 19 RBI.
Earlier this week, Oakland also traded for Washington outfielder Chris Snelling.
