Travis Blackley, an Australian pitcher (yep) who has hurled five innings for the Giants this year but who was designated for assignment to make room for the return of Jeremy Affeldt, was claimed by the A's today. Here are some facts, in bullet form, about Mr. Blackley:

1. He is from Melbourne.

2. This is his second go-around with the A's. His time with the Giants was his second stint with them as well.

3. He is left-handed.

4. He was once a Baseball America Top 100 prospect.

5. He messed up his shoulder.

6. He pitched in Australian League Baseball and also Korea.

7. He last appeared in the Baseball Prospectus annual in 2010.

8. He has no PECOTA projection.

9. There is no ZiPS projection either.

10. He married a Kansan.
    

11. I assume that he'll have to be on the 25-man roster or else get cut because otherwise the Giants would have kept him, but I don't really know, and unless I missed something, the A's haven't made a 25-man move yet.
    

That's all I got. I mean, he's Travis Blackley.