OAKLAND -- The A’s reinstated right fielder Stephen Piscotty from the injured list on Saturday, but that wasn’t their only significant transaction.

Adding savvy and balance behind the plate, the A’s claimed catcher Dustin Garneau off waivers from the Angels.

While Josh Phegley nurses his deeply bruised left thumb on the injured list, Garneau brings multiple assets. He bats right-handed, complementing left-handed-batting Chris Herrmann. A’s manager Bob Melvin said he will platoon Herrmann and Garneau, who will come in handy when the A’s confront Cubs southpaws Jon Lester and Jose Quintana next week.

Moreover, Garneau is familiar with the As’ pitching staff, having played 19 games with Oakland in 2017, plus American League West showdowns against them while Garneau played for the Angels.

“He’s a good fit for us,” Melvin said.

Garneau, a .202 hitter in five Major League seasons, compiled a .232/.346/.362 slash line with two home runs and seven RBIs in 28 games this year with the Angels.

Catcher Beau Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to clear roster room for Garneau.

Piscotty was batting .242 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 76 games when he was placed on the 10-day injured list June 30 with a right knee sprain. He began an injury rehabilitation assignment with Las Vegas on July 27 and went 7-for-23 (.304) with a home run, three RBIs and two walks in five games. Piscotty appeared in three games in right field and two at designated hitter with the Aviators.

Piscotty enjoyed a successful return, singling twice in three at-bats and making a deft leaping catch of Matt Wieters’ fifth-inning drive.

"You want to see a guy get off to a good start after he’s been out for a while. … It goes a long way for your confidence," Melvin said.

Barreto to Triple-A

The A’s ended their latest attempt to enable Franklin Barreto to flourish, optioning the .106-hitting second baseman to Triple-A. Somewhat ominously, Melvin said that Barreto has nothing left to prove at Triple-A, which casts doubt on the 23-year-old’s future.

Right-hander Ryan Dull was designated for assignment by the A’s after he recorded a 12.00 ERA and yielded an opponents’ batting average of .432 in seven relief appearances. Oakland also released right-hander Andrew Triggs, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday.

When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that. Within seven days of the transaction, the player must either be released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.