MLB Player News

Casali is in the lineup Monday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times reports.

Casali will get the start against R.A. Dickey after Hank Conger started the Opening Day game. It seems that the catching duo will split time throughout the course of the season.

Perez (concussion) said he's feeling better of late, but is still awaiting MLB clearance, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Perez has been dealing with a concussion since taking a ball off the bask in a spring game, but he played catch and took batting practice Sunday without issue. Expect the backup catcher to gain clearance to return to live action within the next few days.

Perez took a foul tip to the mask in a recent spring training game and may be dealing with a concussion, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The Indians have made no roster moves yet involving Perez or the other catchers in the organization, but that could happen Monday while the team puts the backstop through the concussion protocol. If Perez is ultimately moved to the 7-day DL, the Indians would likely bring minor leaguer Adam Moore onto the roster to serve as the backup to Yan Gomes.

Vazquez (elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Since Vazquez's DL stint was backdated to March 25, the Red Sox can bring the catcher back on the 25-man roster as soon as April 9. However, it's unclear if the team will go that route, as Vasquez could probably benefit from some more at-bats in the minors after missing all of 2015 following Tommy John surgery.

The White Sox assigned Sanchez to minor league camp Saturday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

There was no room on the big league roster with both Dioner Navarro and Alex Avila in the fold, so Sanchez will report to Triple-A Charlotte.

Stassi (wrist) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

He is expected to miss at least the first month of the season after being diagnosed with a broken hamate bone in his left wrist a couple weeks ago. While Stassi is sidelined, Erik Kratz, whom the Astros acquired via trade on Monday, will serve as the backup to Jason Castro.

Casali will not be the starting catcher on Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 27-year-old easily outplayed veteran Hank Conger, but manager Kevin Cash decided to start Conger based on the matchup against Marcus Stroman. That being said, if Casali can keep up his .273 average beyond spring training, he could garner more starts as the season goes along.

Heineman was reassigned to minor league camp Monday.

Heineman hit .217 over 23 Grapefruit League at-bats and will likely report to Triple-A Fresno to open 2016.

Unless the Astros make a move for outside catching help, Pena is likely to open 2016 as the No. 2 catcher behind Jason Castro, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena lacks experience above Double-A and is hitting just .192 over 28 Grapefruit League plate appearances. If he does open 2016 with the Astros, his stay in Houston may be short-lived, as it's widely assumed the team will make a move for outside catching help with Max Stassi (wrist) on the shelf until May at the earliest.

Gomes played in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday after being sidelined last week by an illness.

He homered in Saturday's game against the Reds, and should be ready to go as Cleveland's Opening Day catcher.