Jack Cust has officially accepted a minor league assignment with Triple-A Sacramento, reports Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse. Cust was pretty upset -- and rightfully so -- when he was designated for assignment just one week ago, calling the decision “a joke,” but he would have been a dope to pass up $2.65 million guaranteed.
Cust, 31, batted just .240/.356/.417 with 25 homers, 70 RBI and a .773 OPS last season, easily his worst season in Oakland, but he shouldn’t stay too far away from a phone with Eric Chavez currently drawing the majority of at-bats as the designated hitter. Chavez, who hasn’t resembled anything close to an imposing hitter since 2005, is 3-for-18 (.167) to begin the year. Staying off the field may be the best way to preserve his health, but as we all know by now, he could suffer an injury at any time.