DETROIT — The Chicago White Sox put third baseman Joe Crede on the disabled list, replaced him with minor leaguer Josh Fields and released pitcher Esteban Loaiza today.

Crede was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 22, because of back inflammation. He was hitting .255 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs in 90 games, and became an All-Star for the first time.

"I don't think it's going to be a quick thing, so that's why we made the decision," manager Ozzie Guillen said before Chicago opened a series against the Detroit Tigers.

Crede played in 47 games last year before having season-ending back surgery in June, but said there is nothing structurally wrong with his back.

"It's just inflamed," he said. "I'm going to take advantage of this time off to let it heal."

Fields filled in for Crede last year and led AL rookies last year with 23 homers in 100 games for the White Sox.

"Hopefully he plays the game like last year and he doesn't try to fill anybody's shoes," Guillen said.

Fields hit nine homers in 59 games at Triple-A Charlotte this season, and had a rehab stint at Single-A Winston-Salem after straining his right knee.

Loaiza, who once won 21 games, had a 3.00 ERA in three appearances this season and was put on the DL in June with a sore right shoulder. He made five starts at Charlotte on a rehab assignment.

He s 126-114 with a 4.65 ERA over his career, which started in 1995 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 36-year-old signed a one-year contract with Chicago on June 4 after being cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.

Loaiza made 55 starts for the White Sox from 2003-04 and was a starting pitcher in the 2003 All-Star Game at U.S Cellular Field. In 2003, he was 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA and led the league in strikeouts.