In strange twist, Rosales back where he started

TORONTO -- Following a brief wardrobe change, infielder Adam Rosales is wearing green and gold again.

Designated for assignment by the A's last week and subsequently claimed off waivers by the Rangers -- only to be designated by Texas days later -- the versatile Rosales was claimed off waivers by the A's on Thursday, leading to a reunion on Friday in Toronto. He was a late-inning replacement in the 14-6 win and grounded out in his only at-bat.

"It's been surreal, a whirlwind," Rosales said. "I'm just trying to be patient. It's a crazy game. I hate to be in this position, to be bouncing back and forth and not really knowing where you're going to be the next day. We'll just see where we go from here now."

With the A's needing a roster spot on Saturday for starter Sonny Gray, it's quite possible Rosales will be designated again, a scenario he's thought about. Still, he said, "whatever happens, happens."

"I just kind of put my head down and go," he said. "I just want to play a game."

Rosales hasn't done that since July 30 with the A's, since he never made an appearance with the Rangers.

"We were hoping to send him over to get their signs, and now we have them, so now we have him back," manager Bob Melvin joked. "He's happy to be back in the organization, and we're happy to have him back. We were hoping to sneak him through and not have him claimed. He was, so once he became available again, it was an easy claim for us."

"Right away, I had a feeling," Rosales said. "They always seemed to respect me, and the way I play the game, and they've always said that, and I've always trusted that."

Though Rosales is in Toronto, most of his belongings -- including his car -- are not. Those arrived in Texas on Thursday night. His wife, Callie, is back in the Bay Area.

"We're limited on clothing," he said, smiling.

The A's optioned right-hander Evan Scribner for assignment to make room for Rosales.