MLB Player News

The Blue Jays have exercised the 2015 options on pitcher J.A. Happ and catcher Josh Thole, Sportsnet.ca reports.

Happ will earn $6.7 million in 2015 as the team opted to retain him rather than pay a $200,000 buyout. Thole is set to make $1.75 million next season.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 1 for 3 with a solo home run in his team's 7-1 loss to the Giants in Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday.

Perez struck the only blow the Royals could manage on offense, finally getting a run off Giants starter Madison Bumgarner after he allowed only two hits through six scoreless innings. By the time of Perez's bomb, the Royals were dug in a hole from which they couldn't escape. It's a rare sign of life from the catcher's bat, as he's hit just .135/.158/.216 in 37 postseason at-bats despite the Royals racking up win after win in the first three rounds.

In an end-of-the-year press conference, Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters he's "very comfortable" with having Christian Vasquez as the team's everyday catcher next season, according to the Providence Journal.

The rookie catcher appeared in 55 games this season, splitting his duties with David Ross behind the plate. He slashed .240/.308/.309 with one home run and 20 RBI over 175 at-bats.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes hit his 21st home run Wednesday against the Royals.

Gomes struck in the first inning. With two men on, Gomes took an 80 mph changeup from Jason Vargas out to center for the three-run shot. He would also walk during the contest. Gomes finished 1 for 3, with one run scored and three RBI. 

Ned Yost is blaming anxiousness rather than fatigue for the slump of Royals catcher Salvador Perez. He told the Kansas City Star that Perez is trying too hard with a playoff spot on the line.

Perez has just five hits in his last 45 at-bats and has been hitless in seven of his last 11 games. His .290 on-base percentage is at its lowest point since April 23. He has a dozen strikeouts in the last 10 games.

The Indians are sitting hot-hitting catcher Yan Gomes for the second game of their doubleheader Thursday against Minnesota. Roberto Perez will be doing the crouching behind the plate instead.

Gomes homered and doubled in the opener.

Yan Gomes continued to prove himself as one of the premier hitting catchers in the game Thursday with Minnesota in town to play the Indians.

Gomes slammed a solo homer in the second inning of the doubleheader opener, then nearly repeated the feat in the third with a bases-loaded double that smacked against the wall. His stat line on the year now stands at .288/.322/.480. That slugging percentage leads all American League catchers.

The Tigers called up catcher James McCann from Triple-A Toledo Monday, upon the expansion of the active roster.

McCann, 24, hit .295/.343/.427 in 109 games at Toledo prior to making his major-league debut late in a 12-1 win over the Indians Monday. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 3 for 4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in his team's 4-3 win over the Rangers Monday.

Perez delivered the first blow of the game with his RBI double in the bottom of the first, and he followed that up with a two-run home run in the third inning to put his team up 3-0. He's managed to produce multiple hits in four of his last six games, raising Perez's line to .269/.302/.424 with 16 home runs and 62 RBI in 484 at-bats.

The Indians activated catcher Yan Gomes from the concussion disabled list as expect Friday, and he is in the starting lineup for that evening's game against the Royals.

Gomes has been out just over a week as a result of the injury, so he ended up missing just the minimum amount of time.