ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Angels waived infielder-designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand on Monday, a disappointment for Los Angeles after signing a $6.5 million, one-year contract in December.

The 31-year-old Hillenbrand batted .254 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 53 games with the Angels.

His mediocre hitting and the emergence of left fielder Reggie Willits and first baseman Casey Kotchman relegated Hillenbrand to a minor role with the Angels, and he recently asked to be traded, saying he needed to be an everyday player. The Angels designated him for assignment on June 29.

He split last season between Toronto and San Francisco, where he was an everyday player. He also was a regular during prior stints in Arizona and Boston.

Hillenbrand is leaving the Angels on good terms, unlike his departure from the Blue Jays last year.

Last July, he got into a dispute with Toronto manager John Gibbons over playing time. Gibbons challenged Hillenbrand to a fight after the infielder wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that the "ship is sinking." They didn't fight and Hillenbrand was traded to the Giants after writing "play for yourself" on a board in the clubhouse.

Hillenbrand, a two-time All-Star, has a .285 career average, with 107 homers and 481 RBIs in 923 games.