The Athletics designated catcher Austin Wynns for assignment on Thursday when Shea Langeliers returned from the paternity list. The team said Langeliers and Jonah Heim will split catching duties for the time being.
Wynns had been with the Athletics since last June, when they picked him up in a cash swap after the Reds designated him for assignment. He appeared in 36 games for Oakland and took 110 plate appearances, but he hit just.167/.204/.304.
The move cuts loose a veteran who has spent parts of eight major league seasons with the Orioles, Giants, Dodgers, Rockies, Reds and Athletics. Wynns has more than five years of big league service time, which means he can reject an outright assignment, elect free agency and keep the rest of his $1.1 million guarantee if he clears waivers.
That gives the Athletics a clear roster answer, but it also shows how little room they had for an offense-first backup who never found his timing. Clubs still value Wynns for his experience, defensive work and ability to handle pitchers, yet his bat never caught up with the role while the Athletics waited for Langeliers to return.
