Brewers land Nottingham in trade with A's

Less than seven months after he came to Oakland, Jacob Nottingham is on the move again.

The A's dealt their eighth-ranked prospect, along with Minor League right-hander Bubba Derby, to Milwaukee on Friday for outfielder Khris Davis. It's the ninth trade for the rebuilding Brewers since general manager David Stearns took over last September.

To clear a spot for Davis on the 40-man roster, Oakland designated left-hander Sean Nolin -- its No. 12 prospect -- for assignment.

Nottingham, the Astros' 2013 sixth-round pick, worked his way up to Class A Advanced Lancaster from Class A Quad Cities last season, his first above Rookie-level ball. The 20-year-old was hitting .324 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 17 games with the JetHawks when he was included in the July 23 deal with the A's that sent veteran southpaw Scott Kazmir to Houston.

Nottingham hit .299/.352/.409 in 43 games with Class A Advanced Stockton in the A's system. His overall numbers -- .316 average, 17 homers, 33 doubles and 82 RBIs -- were impressive enough that fans voted him the Breakout Prospect MiLBY Award.

The California native is still working on his defensive game, primarily receiving and blocking, and he also has seen time at first base. However, Nottingham said in a Prospect Q&A last month that he prefers to stay behind the plate.

"I've been a catcher my whole life," he said. "First base was fun, but catching is what I love and what I want to do. ... Just being in every play. You always got to be in the game and everyone kind of looks to you because you see everything. I like being a leader. And like I said, you're in every pitch and kind of control things on the field."

The Brewers needed help at the position after ending the 2015 season with no catchers ranked among their top 30 prospects.

"In Jacob Nottingham, we are acquiring one of the premier catching prospects in baseball," Stearns said in a statement. "Jacob has an advanced feel for hitting and has demonstrated consistent power throughout his Minor League career."

Thank you @Athletics for the opportunity, definitely 1st class organization. Excited to become part of the "Brew Crew Nation"@Brewers

- Jacob Nottingham (@JayNott) February 13, 2016

Derby, who turns 22 on Feb. 24, was taken by the A's in the sixth round of last year's Draft out of San Diego State. He made 14 appearances -- including 10 starts -- in the Rookie-level Arizona League and with Class A Short Season Vermont, going 1-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings.

The trade apparently means a return to the Minors for the 26-year-old Nolin. After coming to the A's from the Blue Jays in the Josh Donaldson trade in November 2014, he made six big league starts down the stretch last season and posted a 5.28 ERA with 12 walks and 15 strikeouts over 29 innings. Selected in the sixth round of the 2010 Draft, Nolin was ranked as high as fifth among Blue Jays propects by MLB.com during the 2013 season.