SEATTLE (AP) – One bad swing has Eric Chavez back on the disabled list – again.

The Oakland Athletics placed their oft-injured third baseman on the 15-day DL Friday with a strained right forearm.

Chavez did not accompany the A’s to Seattle, instead returning to the Bay Area for further examination on his arm.

Chavez was a late scratch on Thursday before the A’s finished up their series in Texas.

Chavez was expected to make just his fourth appearance at third base in the last 15 games in the series finale against the Rangers, but injured his arm on a swing during batting practice. After Thursday’s game, Oakland manager Bob Geren speculated that Chavez would be headed for the DL.

The move was retroactive to April 25, and the A’s recalled infielder Gregorio Petit from Triple-A Sacramento to take Chavez’s roster spot.

“He felt good enough to play third base and then hurt it swinging,” Geren said.

Chavez’s career in recent seasons has been plagued by injuries. He only played in eight of Oakland’s first 19 games and was hitting only .100 (3 for 30). This is his fourth time on the DL in the last three years and the Gold Glover at third has played just 121 games over the last three seasons. Chavez played just 23 games last year before surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

In 2007, Chavez was sidelined by back problems, but before that season, Chavez won six consecutive Gold Gloves and played at least 115 games each season between 1999 and 2006.

Petit was hitting .239 in 19 games at Sacramento. Petit made his major league debut with the A’s last season, playing in 14 games during three stints. His versatility to play a number of infield positions and his time with the A’s last season made Petit the choice over other options, Geren said.

“He was playing decent. He was the most consistent guy right at the moment,” Geren said.

AP-ES-05-01-09 2231EDT