Granted that I wasn't expecting the A's to designated Eric O'Flaherty for assignment a few years ago, once that happened, I was expecting the best case to be that he'd get claimed by someone on waivers, freeing the A's from paying his salary. (What good that does anyone not named John Fisher I don't know.) Instead, the Mets have agreed to send the A's a player to be named later or cash in return for O'Flaherty's services. So that's something!

Also, Max Muncy got optioned out to make room for the newly claimed Danny Valencia, who says he's not a second baseman, which makes me wonder what on earth he is on this team, with Brett Lawrie entrenched at third and a reasonably full outfield. Lefty-mashing left fielder?

Also also it was Jake Smolinski who lost the Coco Crisp sweepstakes, getting optioned to make room for the returning left fielder. And Pat Venditte lost his own sweepstakes, getting optioned himself rather than activated back to the 25-man roster after his rehab assignment.

The A's are looking downright unsettled, roster-wise, as we move into the final stretch of the season. I guess now is not the time to worry about chemistry and continuity in favor of just making sure everyone is where you want them in terms of getting looks for 2016. O'Flaherty had no place on the 2016 team, surely; Felix Doubront and Valencia, who knows. Maybe!