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.