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A's make deal for catcher

The A's have spent the past several weeks looking to upgrade the left side of the infield -- but the

team's first deal before the deadline was for a backup catcher.

On Sunday, before a 6-1 loss at Baltimore, Oakland sent minor-league reliever Fautino De Los Santos to

the Brewers for George Kottaras, who will join the A's in Oakland on Monday.

The A's did not announce a corresponding move on the 25-man roster, but it's likely the team will send

down rookie catcher Derek Norris. Kottaras' presence, however, does mean the A's would still have a veteran

catcher should the opportunity arise to send catcher Kurt Suzuki in a deal for an infielder.

Manager Bob Melvin has employed multiple platoons this season, and it's possible that the left-handed

hitting Kottaras and right-handed Suzuki will share time behind the plate. Kottaras also fits the A's well.

He draws a lot of walks, including 29 in 58 games this season.

Norris had a recent 0-for-30 spell, the longest hitless streak by an A's player this season, but he was

5-for-his-past-14 going into Sunday. He went 0-for-4 in the A's loss and popped up in the sixth with the

bases loaded to end the inning.

Suzuki, who played with a significant left hand injury much of the first half, is batting .194 over his

past 36 games.