The Oakland A’s designated reliever Brian Schlitter for assignment on Monday, the team announced. They also activated pitcher Jharel Cotton from the 60-day injured list, and then optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.
When the A’s acquired reliever Jake Diekman last weekend, they already had an open spot for him on their 40-man roster but needed to clear space on the 25-man squad. The odd man out proved to be Schlitter, who was out of minor league options and thus couldn’t merely be sent down to Vegas.
Instead Schlitter was DFA’d, and over the next week he’ll either be traded, claimed on waivers, released, or accept a non-roster assignment to the minors.