Robert

Wynns

Wynns will enter next season as the primary backup to starter Shea Langeliers after Willie MacIver was claimed off waivers by the Rangers earlier this week. The 34-year-old journeyman backstop was acquired from the Reds back in June as an emergency stopgap option and went on to post a robust 44.4 percent hard hit rate across 22 games before suffering a season-ending abdominal strain.

The 34-year-old backstop landed on the injured list last week with an abdominal strain. It now appears that it’s a serious enough issue to cost him the remainder of the season, so they’ll move him to the 60-day IL to free up a spot on their active roster. Wynns finishes the season hitting a solid .291/.321/.544 with six homers and 21 RBI in 110 plate appearances between the A’s and Reds.

Wynns, who opened the year with Cincinnati, is hitting .222/.242/.444 in 22 games with the A’s. Willie MacIver will step in as the backup to Shea Langeliers.

MacIver hit a respectable .245/.288/.449 with two homers in 16 games while helping to fill in for Shea Langeliers, but the team is keeping Austin Wynns over him with Langeliers back.

No word yet on the reason for the swap. Rookie backstop Willie MacIver will handle the catching duties during Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees.

The 34-year-old backstop connected on his fourth home run of the season — a 399-foot (107.1 mph EV) solo shot off of Michael Wacha in the second inning — tying the game at one run apiece. That would be his lone hit in four at-bats on the night. For the season, he’s slashing a robust .354/.404/.667 with four long balls and 12 RBI in his first 52 plate appearances.

Wynns helps shore up the Athletics’ glaring hole at catcher after losing starter Shea Langeliers to an oblique strain earlier this week. The 34-year-old journeyman has been swinging a hot bat this season, hitting .400 (16-for-40) with three homers and 11 RBI across 18 games this season in the big leagues. He’s a non-factor for fantasy purposes, but should get a chance to play regularly while Langeliers is on the shelf.

Wynns is booted from the roster to make room for Christian Encarnacion-Strand. The 34-year-old will hit the waiver wire, but there’s a pretty strong chance he’ll report back to Triple-A Louisville to provide depth behind the plate.

Marte will presumably undergo further evaluation to determine the extent of the issue. There should be some clarity on his status following Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. It’ll be Santiago Espinal taking over at third base with Austin Wynns entering the lineup at first base and Spencer Steer heading to left field. Yes, there will be a quiz at the end of this update.

Wynns was playing for the first time since going 6-for-7 with a homer and six RBI in the 24-2 game Sunday against the Orioles. He had a .616 OPS in 245 career games prior to Sunday, but 11 at-bats later, he’s up to .642. In spite of the good big week, the 34-year-old Wynns still figures to find himself off the Cincinnati roster once Tyler Stephenson returns. Perhaps there’s a chance the Reds could keep three catchers if they want to have Stephenson DH a lot.