MLB Player News

The Royals optioned Gallagher to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Maria Torres of The Kansas City Star reports.

Gallagher's dismissal essentially locks Drew Butera into the Opening Day roster as the backup to starting catcher Salvador Perez. The 25-year-old Gallagher received his first taste of the big leagues in 2017, going 6-for-24 at the dish while appearing in 13 contests.

Moore (thumb) replaced starter Jesus Sucre behind the plate in the Rays' 4-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Red Sox on Saturday, striking out in his lone at-bat.

It marked Moore's first spring action since March 6 after the veteran backstop was sidelined with a left thumb injury. Moore doesn't look like a serious candidate for the Rays' Opening Day roster, with the team expected to proceed with Wilson Ramos and Sucre as its two catchers.

The Astros reassigned Stubbs to their minor-league camp Sunday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

The Astros appear set to keep three catchers for their Opening Day roster, but the battle for the final spot has come down to Max Stassi and Tim Federowicz rather than Stubbs, who is less of a finished product and still in need of a full-time role. Since that wouldn't have been available to him at the big-league level, Stubbs will likely report to Triple-A Fresno when the season begins and hold down an everyday role behind the dish. Following his late-season callup to Fresno in 2017, Stubbs logged 91 plate appearances and slashed .221/.341/.286 while going 3-for-3 on stolen-base attempts.

Gomes (arm) is scheduled to play catcher during Sunday's Cactus League game, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Gomes has been dealing with some arm soreness, but the issue was never expected to keep him sidelined long. Assuming he gets through Sunday's game with no issues, the backstop should be fully operational for the start of the regular season.

Thaiss was reassigned to minor-league camp Saturday.

He hit .259 with two home runs and a .310 OBP in 27 spring at-bats. Thaiss should open the year at either Double-A or Triple-A and could reach the big leagues this season. However, he may not be able to get everyday at-bats in the majors anytime soon, barring an injury.

The White Sox reassigned Zavala to minor-league camp Friday.

Zavala earned a non-roster invitation to spring training after slashing .282/.353/.499 with 21 home runs in 387 at-bats between Low-A Kannapolis and High-A Winston-Salem in 2017. Double-A Birmingham seems like the likely destination for the 24-year-old this season.

Gomes is out with minor arm soreness Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The injury does not appear to be serious, and Gomes could see action as the designated hitter over the next few days. He's expected to catch again Monday. Barring setbacks, he should be fine by the start of the regular season.

Trevino was optioned to Double-A Frisco, Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Optioning Trevino, along with designating Brett Nicholas for assignment, gives Juan Centeno a significant edge in the battle to win the backup catching job. Trevino is a defensive specialist who has won a Gold Glove as the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues the past two seasons.

Jansen was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Jansen is a promising catching prospect, though he was always unlikely to open the season with the big-league club. Still just 22, he hit well at the three highest levels of the minors last season (a combined .323/.400/.484 in 104 games) but only has 21 games at Triple-A. With strong performances in his return to Buffalo this season, Jansen could make his major-league debut later this year.

Nicholas cleared waivers and will return to the Rangers as a non-roster invitee, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Nicholas was waived when the Rangers signed Tim Lincecum. The 29-year-old can continue to compete for the team's backup catcher job as a non-roster invitee, though he's likely behind Juan Centeno, who remains on the 40-man roster. Nicholas figures to return to Triple-A and wait for an injury to Centeno or starting catcher Robinson Chirinos. He hit .311/.353/.469 for Round Rock last season.