Athletics demote infielder Kouzmanoff

OAKLAND, Calif., June 6 (UPI) -- The Oakland Athletics Monday demoted starting third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff to the minor leagues in a roster shake-up.

A's Manager Bob Geren said the slumping team is looking for better play than what they were getting from Kouzmanoff both in the field and at the plate.

"The production from that spot has not been there offensively and defensively," Geren told the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News. "Now we're going to give someone else a chance to produce in that spot."

Kouzmanoff, once seen as the A's long-term solution at third, was sent to Class AAA Sacramento while injured infielder Adam Rosales was activated from the disabled list and infielder Scott Sizemore was recalled from Sacramento.

Kouzmanoff, who was obtained by the A's before last season in a trade that sent Scott Hairston to the San Diego Padres, hit 16 homers and drove in 71 runs over 143 games in 2010, batting ,247.

This season, however, the right-hander is batting .221 with four homers and 17 RBI while committing nine errors at third.

"I'm surprised, I didn't see it coming," Kouzmanoff told the newspaper. "But we've got Rosales coming up. He's healthy. That's just the way it is."