Jonathan Ornelas Joins the Milwaukee Brewers in a Surprising Post-Deadline Move

In a move that has caught the attention of baseball analysts and fans alike, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement on a minor trade. The A’s have sent Jonathan Ornelas to Milwaukee in exchange for cash considerations.

The Brewers are expected to select Ornelas immediately, making him active for their highly anticipated matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. To make room on the roster, the Brewers have designated Jihwan Bae for assignment.

The Technicality: How was this trade possible after the deadline?

For many MLB followers, this transaction seems counterintuitive. The official MLB trade deadline passed on August 3, and typically, players already selected to a 40-man roster cannot be traded after this date. So, how did Jonathan Ornelas end up moving teams in mid-August?

The answer lies in a specific set of circumstances regarding Ornelas’s contract status:

• Designated for Assignment (DFA): Ornelas was recently DFA’d by the Athletics.
• Electing Free Agency: After clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas, Ornelas chose to elect free agency.
• The New Contract: On August 14, Ornelas re-signed with the Athletics, but on a minor league contract.

Because he signed a fresh minor league deal and was not on the 40-man roster under this current contract, he became eligible to be traded, regardless of the passing of the trade deadline. This rare loophole allows veterans on minor league contracts—who haven’t been on the 40-man roster during the current season’s window—to remain “fair game” for trades.

What This Means for the Brewers

While this isn’t a blockbuster trade on the scale of a superstar acquisition, it provides the Brewers with tactical depth. Adding a player like Jonathan Ornelas allows Milwaukee to shuffle their roster needs as they push through the final stretch of the season.

For more real-time updates on roster moves and official statistics, you can follow the latest news on MLB.com.

Quick Recap of the Trade

Stay tuned for more updates on how Ornelas performs in his debut with the Brewers!