MLB Player News

Zavala (quadriceps) is available off the bench for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rangers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Zavala has been limited to just three at-bats this spring while tending to the strained left quad. It's unclear if the White Sox plan on using him Saturday, but the team's decision to make him available suggests that there's no longer much concern about the injury. Zavala is expected to open the upcoming season at Triple-A Charlotte.

Maldonado and the Royals came to terms Saturday on a one-year, $2.5 million contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. The deal includes an additional $1.4 million in incentives.

After Kansas City lost top catcher Salvador Perez (elbow) to season-ending Tommy John surgery earlier this spring, the club wasted little time on checking in with Maldonado, the top option at the position still on the open market. The two sides were able to strike a deal fairly quickly, so Maldonado should have enough time to get in enough defensive work and at-bats over the next couple weeks to ensure he'll be ready for Opening Day. The 2017 Gold Glove winner will make his greatest impact on the defensive end, but the likelihood that he'll handle the majority of the starts behind the dish for Kansas City gives him some appeal as a second catcher in AL-only formats or deeper mixed leagues that start two backstops.

Rupp was traded from the Giants to the Tigers for cash considerations Friday, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Rupp was in Giants' camp as a non-roster invitee but didn't have a clear path to a roster spot. He'd have to beat out John Hicks for a job in Detroit, though the Tigers could carry three catchers as Hicks is expected to spend time at first base. Rupp was stuck in the minors last season but owns a respectable (for a catcher) .234/.298/.407 line over parts of five seasons in the big leagues.

Stassi went 2-for-2 with an RBI in Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Stassi looked like a find during the first part of 2018 before his offense fell off over the second half. He'll be looking to sustain his bat over the entire season but will do so as a backup to Robinson Chirinos.

Narvaez went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored Thursday against Cincinnati.

Narvaez went deep in the first inning to get his team on the scoreboard, belting his first homer of spring training. The 27-year-old is 4-for-18 at the dish thus far and projects as Seattle's starting catcher after being shipped over from the White Sox during the offseason.

Trevino (shoulder) is listed among the Rangers' reserve options for Thursday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Adam Moore is slated to swap in for starting catcher Jett Bandy midway through the contest, but Trevino will be on hand as a third option if needed. Trevino's availability in any capacity indicates he's moved past the shoulder issue that limited him early in camp. He has already appeared in five Cactus League games, going hitless in eight at-bats.

Zavala (quad strain) hopes to return to action this weekend, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

He suffered the injury in the first Cactus League game of the season and has yet to return, but it sounds like that could happen this weekend. Zavala is likely ticketed for Triple-A to start the season, but is the third catcher on the organizational depth chart, so it is quite possible that he makes his big-league debut this season.

Wynns (oblique) said Thursday that a recent MRI returned negative and indicated that he expects to rejoin the Orioles' Grapefruit League lineup within a few days, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

Wynns tweaked his oblique in batting practice earlier this week and has been held out of the lineup the past couple days for what he described as precautionary reasons. The Orioles will bar him from swinging over the next couple days so as to avoid the injury, but assuming he heals as anticipated, the backstop should be ready to play again by next week. He's likely competing for non-roster invitees Jesus Sucre and Carlos Perez for the No. 2 job with Chance Sisco turning in a massive spring thus far to cement his spot atop the depth chart.

Perez underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday.

Perez's procedure went as expected, and the Royals' official statement confirmed that the backstop will sit out the entirety of the 2019 season. Cameron Gallagher is expected to handle the majority of the catching duties unless the team brings in an external option prior to Opening Day.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Wynns is dealing with a sore oblique and will likely be unavailable to play the next few days, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

While the oblique issue doesn't sound like anything that will force Wynns to begin the season on the injured list, it may hurt his odds of break camp with the big club. Wynns' setback strengthens the hot-hitting Chance Sisco's spot atop the depth chart while potentially opening the door for non-roster players Jesus Sucre, Carlos Perez and Andrew Susac to emerge as the No. 2 option behind the dish.