Catchers Norris, Jaso making strides in rehab

DETROIT -- The A's could soon have four healthy catchers on their roster, should Derek Norris and John Jaso continue making strides in their respective rehabs.

Norris, who broke his big left toe just last week, is progressing so well that he could play in a rehab game as soon as Saturday, according to manager Bob Melvin. His fracture has not completely healed, but "enough to where he's running around and feeling fine on it," Melvin noted.

And Jaso, who for more than a month wasn't able to participate in any baseball activities because of ongoing concussion symptoms, played catch for the first time on Wednesday and could take batting practice at some point on the club's 10-game homestand that begins Friday.

"He felt pretty good," Melvin said. "When we get home, he might take batting practice with us, so we're starting to get more encouraging signs from him."

Norris is eligible to be reinstated from the disabled list on Sept. 5. Rosters will have expanded by then, allowing the A's to keep all of their catchers, including current platoon mates Kurt Suzuki and Stephen Vogt, in tow.