Athletics release Jason Giambi

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The Oakland Athletics have released veteran first baseman Jason Giambi.

He played in 83 games (269 at-bats) this season before going on the 15-day disabled list July 20 with a strained right quadriceps.

His batting average was the lowest in baseball when he was released Friday.

"We're at a point where we have a couple of first basemen, younger guys that we'd like to play," manager Bob Geren said on the team's Web site.

The 38-year-old slugger, originally selected by Oakland in the second round of the 1992 Amateur Draft, is a career .282 hitter with 407 home runs and 1,319 RBI.

The 2001 AL MVP runner-up is tied for 43rd with Duke Snider on baseball's all-time home runs list.

Giambi spent seven seasons with the New York Yankees and was linked to performance-enhancing drugs as part of the BALCO probe in San Francisco.