The Oakland Athletics claimed right-hander Dan Giese off waivers from the New York Yankees on Wednesday, then optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento.
Giese was designated for assignment on Saturday by New York after going 0-1 with two saves and a 6.48 ERA in nine relief appearances during spring training.
"I wasn't surprised. I thought someone would pick him up," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before New York faced the Baltimore Orioles. "The job he did for us last year was really, really good. The thing is, he can do a lot of different things for a club. He can start, spot start, long relief, an inning — he's always going to throw strikes (and) you know what you're going to get, for the most part, every day. That's why I felt a club might take a chance on him."
The 31-year-old Giese was 1-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 20 games — including three starts — with the Yankees in 2008.
Giese made his major league debut in 2007 with the San Francisco Giants. His lifetime record is 1-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 appearances.
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's designated right-handed pitcher Chris Schroder for assignment.
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