Former Toronto Blue Jays catcher signs with the Athletics

On Monday, the Athletics signed Serven to a minor-league deal and parked him at Triple-A Las Vegas to start.

It's the kind of quiet depth move that matters the first time a starter takes a foul tip off the thumb.This is also the franchise that's officially just «Athletics» right now, with no city tag while they play in West Sacramento.

That branding weirdness aside, the roster math is easy, catchers always get tested by injuries.

Serven is 30 and turns 31 in May, drafted by Colorado in the fifth round in 2016 out of Arizona State.

He debuted in 2022 and even had that goofy moment where his first two MLB hits were both multi-run homers. Offensively, the track record is what it is, a career .187 average with six homers and a .540 OPS.

That's why the glove is the selling point, not necessarily the offense.

Toronto saw him up close in 2024, especially after the Danny Jansen trade forcing the club into emergency depth mode which Serven ended up playing a big role in.

Serven isn't coming in as a headline, he's coming in as a «please catch six innings clean» option.

As a fan, I'll always respect the backup catcher grind, because it's thankless until everything breaks.

MLB Trade Rumors framed him as a glove-first option, with strong marks for pitch framing and solid work controlling the run game.

That fits an Athletics staff that keeps leaning on young arms, where an extra stolen strike can change an inning.

He can work with pitchers in Las Vegas, stay ready, and step in without the staff feeling like it's starting over.

For Blue Jays fans, this signing is a reminder of how quickly catching depth cycles through the league. The next milestone is simple, whether Serven earns a camp look and forces a real decision by March.

Source: MLB Trade rumors
Athletics Sign Brian Serven, Cade Marlowe To Minor League Deals