"First baseman Jason Giambi, whose swagger and power helped to turn around an A's franchise more than a decade ago, was released by the team Friday morning in another move designed to give younger players a chance for more playing time in the final seven-plus weeks of the season.

Giambi, a 15-year veteran, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quad on July 20 but had not played since he became eligible to return on Tuesday, even though he said he felt physically fine.

"It's difficult because Jason had a long, successful history here. He's somebody that everyone was very fond of. Not just as a player, but as a person," A's general manager Billy Beane said via conference call Friday. "Those things are never easy. But once again, like everything Jason's done, he acted like a professional, and we'll certainly miss him."

Beane said the team was not actively shopping Giambi at the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline. However, Beane said the A's told Giambi right around the All-Star break that they might start looking at younger players such as Tommy Everidge and Daric Barton at first base. Giambi is hitting .193.

The A's already have several infielders capable of playing first base, and Giambi was likely going to find it difficult to get on the field anyway as the team gave other individuals more opportunities to play."