Anaheim, CA - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim officially released Shea Hillenbrand on Wednesday after the designated hitter cleared unconditional release waivers.
Hillenbrand was designated for assignment on June 29 after hitting .254 with three homers and 22 RBI this season, and was placed on waivers July 9.
After a tumultuous 2006 season, Hillenbrand landed in Anaheim with a one-year contract that included a club option for 2008.
Hillenbrand started last year with Toronto before blasting the Blue Jays organization and forcing the club to trade him to San Francisco. After taking three days off to complete the adoption of a baby girl, Hillenbrand ripped Blue Jays officials for not putting him in the starting lineup.
He also was upset about not being congratulated by the team’s front office on the adoption while Blue Jays manager John Gibbons reportedly challenged Hillenbrand to a fight during a closed-door meeting.
Hillenbrand batted .301 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 81 games with Toronto before the Blue Jays designated him for assignment.
Playing time was apparently the bone of contention for Hillenbrand in Anaheim too. He’s appeared in 53 games this season.
The Angels also requested unconditional release waivers on veteran relief pitcher Hector Carrasco, who was designated for assignment on July 3.
The 37-year-old Carrasco went 2-1 with a 6.57 earned run average in 29 games this season.
Carrasco was originally signed by the Angels as a free agent in 2005.
