The Oakland Athletics said Thursday that they have outrighted infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima to Triple-A Sacramento.
Nakajima, who is in the final year of a two-year deal signed with the A's, was not invited to the club's major league spring camp, but in six preseason games he had two hits and an RBI in six at-bats.
Yet to play in the majors, the 31-year-old Nakajima was added to the A's 40-man roster on Saturday, but he was optioned back to Triple-A later the same day.
The former Seibu Lions star, who batted .283 for Sacramento last season, is now on a minor-league deal with Sacramento but will continue to receive the salary guaranteed him by the A's through the end of the season.