George Kottaras hit a go-ahead homer in the top of the 10th inning Tuesday as the A's beat the Rangers 3-2. Another unlikely hero in an unlikely season for the A's. Kottaras is batting just .220 with a .793 OPS in 81 games this year but came through in the clutch Tuesday night. Oakland now boasts a 2 1/2-game lead over the Angels in the chase for the second American League Wild Card.

George Kottaras blasted a three-run homer in Friday's 6-1 win over the Mariners. Kottaras tagged King Felix Hernandez in the fourth. It was his only hit in four trips to the plate, though he also drew a walk. Rotating starts with Derek Norris, Kottaras is a poor AL-only league option for the fantasy playoffs.

Athletics acquired C George Kottaras from the Brewers in exchange for RHP Fautino De Los Santos. The A's haven't announced who he'll replace on the roster, but he would figure to take Derek Norris' spot. Kottaras was designated for assignment last week after batting .209 with 24 strikeouts in 119 plate appearances. He has some pop and can draw walks, though, and should see plenty of playing time against right-handers.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports the Brewers are close to trading George Kottaras to the Athletics. It's not yet clear what the Brewers would get in return, but it likely won't be anything of value. Kottaras was designated for assignment earlier this week when the Brewers activated Jonathan Lucroy from the disabled list.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Thursday that he is working on trade involving George Kottaras. Kottaras was designated for assignment on Thursday when the Brewers activated Jonathan Lucroy from the disabled list. The 29-year-old backstop is batting just .209 (18-for-86) this season, but has also drawn 29 walks and has some pop from the left side of the plate. Melvin hopes to complete a trade within the next couple of days.

Brewers designated C George Kottaras for assignment. Kottaras was batting just .209 with 24 strikeouts in 116 plate appearances this season for Milwaukee. The 29-year-old backstop could draw some interest on waivers.

George Kottaras went 2-for-3 with a critical seventh-inning long ball that powered the Brewers over the Cubs on Wednesday. Last season Kottaras established himself as one of the league's better backup catchers. This season he is already 3-for-7 (.429) with two home runs and five RBI.

George Kottaras drove in five runs with a pair of doubles Wednesday against the Cubs. The Brewers scored all 10 runs in the middle three innings, and Kottaras was obviously a big part of it. Also getting in on the action was Alex Gonzalez, who was 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, and Rickie Weeks and Mat Gamel, who each scored twice and stole a base.

Brewers and C George Kottaras avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract. Terms aren't yet available, but Kottaras projected to make a little under $1 million in his first year of arbitration. The 28-year-old batted .252/.311/.459 with five home runs, 17 RBI and a .771 OPS over 123 plate appearances this past season. He'll serve as the primary backup to Jonathan Lucroy again in 2012.

George Kottaras hit for the cycle in the Brewers' 8-2 defeat of the Astros on Saturday in Houston. Kottaras flied out to left field in his first at-bat, but was locked in from thereon out. He slugged a home to right field in the fourth, tripled in the sixth, hit a single in the seventh, then finished off the cycle with a ninth-inning double. The 28-year-old catcher finished with two RBI.