Athletics outfield prospect Michael Taylor is struggling offensively in the month of August. Taylor has OPS of .488 (.184/.225) over his last 10 games. With seven hits in 38 at-bats, he has just one RBI and one stole base since Aug. 6. On the season, Taylor has an OPS of .720 (.262/.338) for Triple-A Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League. He's played 106 games for the River Cats, logging 390 at-bats. Taylor strikes out nearly twice as much as he walks and he's 12-for-17 in steal attempts. He was selected by the Phillies in the 5th round (No. 173 overall) of the June 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

The last-place Mariners welcomed Daren Brown, its new interim manager, by getting its first triple play in 15 years in a 3-1 win over the Athletics on Monday night, as reported by the Associated Press,

The A's promoted highly touted prospect Chris Carter from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday. Carter, 23, was batting .262 with 27 home runs and 89 RBI in 113 games with Sacramento. He is tied for fifth in all of minor league baseball in home runs and extra base hits (58), tied for seventh in runs (84) and ranks eighth in RBI.

The last-place Mariners fired manager Don Wakamatsu on Monday, more than halfway through a season that began with hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The Mariners started the day at 42-70, the second-worst record in the AL. Daren Brown, the manager of Triple-A Tacoma, took over on an interim basis hours before a game against the A's.

Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez is mulling retirement. He is currently recovering from two bulging disks in his neck. "I've pondered retirement," Chavez said in an e-mail to the San Francisco Chronicle. "I'd lie if I said I didn't. The truth of the matter is that I don't know what I'm going to do." The longest-tenured A's player, Chavez is in the final season of a six-year, $66 million deal; the A's are certain not to pick up next year's $12.5 million option.

Athletics outfielder Matt Watson was taken to a hospital before Sunday's game against the Rangers after complaining of pain in his side and back. Watson felt discomfort as he arrived in the clubhouse. He is 6-for-30 in 12 games for the A's, who signed him to a minor league contract on May 28.

The Athletics are moving long-time first baseman Chris Carter to left field. Carter is Oakland's top power-hitting prospect. The team says they know what he can do as a first baseman and designated hitter and simply want to see him as an outfielder for two months. "We moved Chris to the outfield because Daric Barton has really established himself at first base," assistant general manager David Forst said. "We figured it wouldn't hurt. ... There's not a big, grand plan."

Athletics pitcher Ben Sheets will have flexor-tendon surgery on Monday in Dallas. Sheets believes the tendon will be anchored to the bone differently than it was the first time, when it was sutured. "My arm will tell me," he said when asked if he'll pitch again. Sheets will have nine years of service time after this season. For the full major-league pension, players need 10 years of service.