A's reclaim Taylor for catching depth

HOUSTON -- When Beau Taylor was designated for assignment by the A's on Aug. 14, manager Bob Melvin said he had his fingers crossed the catcher would sneak through waivers. Things didn't go as Melvin hoped, but Taylor has found his way back to Oakland's clubhouse.

The A's claimed Taylor off waivers from the Blue Jays just hours before Tuesday's game against the Astros. He was expected to arrive to Minute Maid Park about an hour after the game's 5:10 p.m. PT start.

Taylor was well-liked in the A's clubhouse and contributed over two stints in the Majors this season, impressing Melvin and the coaching staff his work with pitchers. The 29-year-old was a fifth-round selection by the A's in the 2011 MLB Draft, and after a brief stint with Toronto that saw him appear in one game before getting DFA'd on Saturday, Taylor returns to his original club.

"Our guys really embrace him. He's played with these guys throughout the Minor Leagues. He's always considered himself an Oakland A, and we have as well," Melvin said. "It's great to have a guy like that back, and I think he was probably playing as well as he ever has, which was one of the reasons why he was picked up. This is a guy we're really comfortable with."

Taylor gives the A's a third catcher -- along with Josh Phegley and rookie Sean Murphy -- though he would be ineligible for the postseason, should the A's make it, due to joining the roster after Aug. 31.

To make room for Taylor on the 40-man roster, Chris Herrmann was designated for assignment. When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction, the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.

Herrmann was the A's first official signing of the 2019 offseason and was expected to begin the season as the team's starting catcher, but knee surgery kept him out for nearly four months. The 31-year-old left-handed hitter batted .202 with one home run and eight RBIs in 30 games.

"The injuries set him back early on, and he wasn't getting a ton of playing time," Melvin said of Herrmann. "Just felt like this was a slightly better fit for us. Nothing against Chris, he worked hard and did a good job for us. You always try to make incremental upgrades, and we feel Beau is a little better fit here."

Laureano progresses
Ramón Laureano has been out of action since leaving Saturday's game early with right leg cramps, but the center fielder took part in batting practice on Tuesday and was hopeful of a return to the starting lineup Wednesday.

"He's maybe available off the bench," Melvin said. "I hope to be able to play him tomorrow."

Laureano missed 32 games with a stress reaction in his right shin, returning from the injured list last Friday.