The Athletics cleared a roster spot by bringing Zack Gelof back from the 10-day injured list and designating Jonathan Ornelas for assignment.
Ornelas, 26, had only just arrived in Oakland after a quick turn of events. He opted out of a minor league deal with the Yankees in July, then landed another minor league contract with the A’s and was added to the big league roster on the final day of the month.
From there, he appeared in six games and came to the plate 13 times, finishing with two hits, both singles, plus a walk. He also struck out seven times.
Because he is out of options, Oakland had to remove him from the roster once the move was made. Now that the trade deadline has passed, he’ll go through waivers in the coming days.
What Ornelas brings is a familiar utility profile. His major league sample is tiny - 71 plate appearances overall - and the line there sits at .200/.257/.231. Even so, he has spent time all over the field, including shortstop, second base, third base, left field and center field.
His bat has never really taken off in the minors, either, though there has been some growth this season. From 2023 through 2025, he logged 1,339 Triple-A plate appearances and posted 21 home runs with a .233/.331/.331 line and a 75 wRC+.
This year, between the Yankees and Athletics, he has 308 Triple-A plate appearances and has hit .310/.378/.505 with a 127 wRC+. A .381 batting average on balls in play has helped push those numbers up, but he has also connected for 11 home runs, which is a better power pace than usual for him.
That combination of defensive flexibility and improved Triple-A production gives him at least a case to make as a bench option if a club believes the offense can hold up even at a modest level. If he gets through waivers, he has a previous outright and would be able to elect free agency.
In Other News...
Yankees Passed On A Catching Upgrade And Cashmans Logic Is Under Fire
The catching market at the 2026 trade deadline did not offer the kind of clean solution contenders usually hope for. Shea Langeliers was hurt, Ryan Jeffers and Hunter Goodman were not realistic possibilities, and that left clubs sorting through a thin group of alternatives while looking for even modest help behind the plate. For the Yankees, the conversation quickly centered on whether they were willing to add a catcher at all, especially with Austin Wells handling the position and the market not exactly overflowing with answers.
Brian Cashmans deadline approach came under the microscope because of what he tends to value most: control beyond the current season. The Yankees passed on the kind of rental move that could have addressed a clear need without a massive long-term commitment, and that preference has become part of the larger critique of how the front office operates in July. In a market that did not present many perfect fits, the choice not to act on a catcher at all left plenty of people wondering whether the safer strategy also cost them a chance to get better. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Judge Rehab Gives Yankees Hope With One Big Unanswered Problem
Aaron Judge has started moving again, with upper-body training and light running now part of his rehab from the stress fracture in his right rib. It is an encouraging step for the Yankees after a stretch in which their lineup has had to do without its captain, and it comes with Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman both stressing that the ramp-up has to be gradual so Judge is truly ready when he comes back.
For now, though, the biggest question remains when that return might actually happen, and the club is offering no timetable yet. Judge is still working back from the discomfort tied to the injury, which leaves the Yankees waiting for a clearer runway even as other pitchers across the rehab circuit, including Garrett Crochet and Spencer Arrighetti, continue moving through their own recovery paths. [Read more 🡒]
Will Warren Opened Up About The Yankees Trade Rumor He Hated
Will Warren has spent enough time around trade chatter to know how quickly a rumor can take on a life of its own, and this one hit close to home. The Yankees right-hander was at the center of a false report tying him to San Diego in a proposed deal, another reminder of how often young pitchers can find themselves in the middle of speculation even when they are still trying to carve out a role in New York.
Warren said he was relieved the move never materialized and made clear he would rather keep building with the Yankees than keep wondering where he might land next. Brian Cashman later shut down the rumor, but the episode still underscored something Warren has dealt with before: being a name that pops up whenever teams start circling pitching depth, and having to keep his focus on staying put. [Read more 🡒]