MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) The Brewers traded catcher George Kottaras to Oakland yesterday for reliever Fautino De Los Santos. Kottaras was designated for assignment late last week, after he lost his backup catcher’s job upon the return of starter Jonathan Lucroy.

To make room on the roster for De Los Santos, the Brewers moved starting pitcher Shaun Marcum to the 60-day disabled list. Marcum has been out for almost a month-and-a-half with shoulder tightness.

The Brewers sent the 26-year-old De Los Santos to Triple-“A” Nashville, and he’ll be out of minor league options starting next year. He struck out 46 batters in 36-and-a-third innings for Oakland over the past two seasons, with a four-point-two-one E-R-A. But he was pitching at Triple-“A” Sacramento since late April, after his big league opponents went 7-for-17 against him. De Los Santos had a seven-point-two-five E-R-A in 28 Triple-“A” appearances with a 1-and-3 record. He was pitching better this month until he gave up three runs last Tuesday night against Salt Lake City.

Brewers’ assistant general manager Gord Ash said De Los Santos has struggled with his control at times. But in a trade like this, Ash said the Brewers were to get what he called an “up-side arm.” Kottaras is a five-year Major League veteran who had been with Milwaukee since 2009. He was batting .209 this year with three homers and 12 R-B-I’s in 58 games.