When the Brewers traded Keith Ginter to the Athletics in December of 2004, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, the Brewers were losing an inexpensive but productive infielder who could play passable defense at second and third and provide some right-handed power. On the other hand, the move was expected to give Ginter an opportunity to finally win an everyday job and the Brewers netted a budding middle reliever (Justin Lehr) and a toolsy outfield prospect (Nelson Cruz) from Oakland.

A year-and-a-half later, things have not gone as expected for the former Texas Tech Red Raider. A dismal start to the 2005 season planted him on the bench behind Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro and he was finally demoted to Sacramento sporting a .161/.234/.263 line in 51 games. After OPSing 779 and 812 over more than 800 plate appearances in the previous two seasons with Milwaukee, Ginter was outrighted off the A’s 40-man roster and accepted an assignment to Triple-A where he will collect the remaining $1 million off the contract he signed with the Brewers.

Having turned 30 on Cinco de Mayo, Ginter doesn’t expect to see the big leagues in 2006.

With more acceptance than celebration, Keith Ginter turned 30 Friday as a River Cat, farther from Oakland than the commuting distance would indicate and farther still from the future.

It won’t be with the A’s, he knows that. Almost certainly not this season, barring a torrent of injuries among infielders with the parent club, and certainly not beyond 2006. Ginter doesn’t expect to be tendered a new contract, and he said this week he wouldn’t accept in the unlikely event one was offered.

“I’m not looking at going back to the big leagues this season,” he said with no trace of bitterness. “I know I’m here for the season. I’m just going to work hard and do what I need to do to get better.”

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“If anyone deserves to be here, I deserve to be here,” Ginter said. “I had a bad year last year. I’m just here to make the best of it and try to improve for when I’m a free agent.

“I’m going to come out and have a smile on my face and work with some of the younger guys. I can’t control what’s happening somewhere else. Only here.”

With starting second-baseman Mark Ellis on the shelf for six weeks with a broken thumb, there is an outside chance that Athletics will purchase Ginter’s contract and give him another chance. More likely, they’ll stick with Scutaro (467 OPS) and Antonio Perez (159) with the hope that either or both will be able to contribute at the plate if given regular playing time.

Ginter, on the other hand, is seemingly back to his old self again. In 44 games with the River Cats, he is hitting .297/.365/.434 with twelve doubles and four home runs. It is his first stint in the PCL since 2002 when he hit .264/.362/.416 in 121 games for New Orleans before being dealt to Milwaukee.

Despite last season’s debacle at the dish, Ginter still boasts a 751 career OPS in the big leagues and there is little doubt that he could help a number of teams off the bench or even in the starting lineup. Hopefully he’ll get a chance to do just that, and sooner rather than later.