A's claim RHPs Danny Otero and Josh Stinson off waivers

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A's claimed right-handed pitcher Danny Otero off waivers from the New York Yankees and right-handed pitcher Josh Stinson off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, the club announced today.  Otero has been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento and Stinson was optioned to Double-A Midland.  To clear spots on the 40-man roster, the A's designated left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley and first baseman Daric Barton for assignment.  The A's also optioned left-handed pitcher Jordan Norberto to Sacramento.

Otero began the spring with San Francisco and went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in eight appearances with the Giants before he was optioned to Fresno March 15.  He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees March 26 but was designated for assignment the next day.  Otero spent most of the 2012 season at Triple-A Fresno in the Giants organization, going 5-5 with three saves and a 2.90 ERA in 48 relief appearances.  He also made 12 appearances with San Francisco, logging a 5.84 ERA in his Major League debut.

Stinson went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 10 relief appearances with Milwaukee this spring before he was optioned March 22.  He spent the 2012 season at Double-A Huntsville, where he was 11-9 with a 3.16 ERA in 29 games, 24 starts.  That earned him a September call-up to Milwaukee and he posted a 0.96 ERA in six games, including one start.  Stinson made his Major League debut with the Mets in 2011 and is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 career appearances, including one start.

Blackley went 1-1 with a 14.21 ERA in seven games, including two starts, for the A's this spring.  He allowed 27 hits in 12.2 innings for a .450 opponents batting average.  Blackley was claimed off waivers from San Francisco last year on May 15 and went 6-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 24 games, 15 starts, with the A's.  He is 7-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 36 career Major League appearances, including 23 starts.

Barton was batting .206 with two doubles and five RBI in 17 games this spring.  He also had 11 walks for a .438 on-base percentage.  Barton was one of three players acquired by the A's in the Mark Mulder trade following the 2004 season.  He hit .347 in 18 games during his Major League debut in 2007 and spent parts of the last six seasons with the A's.  Barton batted .204 in 46 games with Oakland last year and hit .249 with 27 home runs, 163 RBI and 272 walks in 484 games in his Oakland career.

The A's now have 32 active players in camp, including Bartolo Colón, who will open the season on the suspended list.  That includes 29 players on the 40-man roster and three non-roster invitees.  The breakdown includes 16 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and five outfielders.