MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is considering having Josh Thole catch knuckleballer R.A. Dickey during the 2015 season, per Sportsnet.ca.

"If (Russell) Martin catches 130 games, he maybe more valuable with the other four starters," Gibbons said.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez logged four at-bats in a minor-league game on Wednesday, and did not serve as a catcher, according to the Boston Globe. Vazquez has been sidelined for five days with a sore throwing elbow. He's expected to spend some days in minor-league games before he's cleared for Grapefruit League games.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez has been sidelined for four days with a sore throwing elbow, according to the Boston Herald.

He threw on the side on Monday and will get a few at-bats in minor-league games the next few days before he is cleared for big-league games. He's targeting a return on Friday, according to the Boston Globe. 

Vazquez has three hits in his first 14 spring at-bats.

Royals manager Ned Yost was considering having Erik Kratz as a personal catcher for one of the pitchers in the team's rotation as a way of having built-in days off for starting catcher Salvador Perez. However, Yost is no longer going to use that plan.

"Just not going to happen," Yost said Wednesday, per MLB.com."I talked to my staff and decided that's not what we want to do. We'll pick spots and give Sal a day off. We'll look for days -- a Saturday off or a Sunday. We just decided to go that way."

Yost added it will be up to the coaching staff to make sure Perez, who appeared in a career-high 150 games in 2014, gets time off in 2015.

"You got so many off-days early in the season," Yost said. "[The rest] comes into play about June, July and August. But then in September, that's it [for days off] unless we have a big lead."

Tigers catcher James McCann, who is vying for a spot on the roster as a backup to Alex Avila, allowed a passed ball during Thursday's spring game against the Braves. After the game, McCann was very critical of his play and vowed to make sure no more pitches skip by him. 

McCann's relentless work ethic is one trait that manager Brad Aumus likes about the 24-year-old catcher.

"I don't have to worry about him working," Ausmus said Thursday, per the Detroit Free Press. "I think Mac does an excellent job. He is very alert. His head is into the game at all times. He understands that his value is greater on the defensive side of the game than it is when he is standing in the batter's box. That's not to say he doesn't take his hitting seriously.

"I think he has a chance to be a very good major-league catcher. I'm more concerned about how he handles a staff, how he calls a game, how he blocks balls in the dirt (than his ability to throw out runners)."

Indians catcher Yan Gomes' first hit of the spring came on a two-run home run during Cleveland's 9-3 Cactus League win over the Reds. 

Gomes went yard in the fifth inning off of Reds pitcher Burke Badenhop. 

Thursday's showing was a good sign that Gomes is picking up where he left off in 2014, when he recorded a batting average of .278 and hit 21 home runs. 

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez seems to be very happy with the lessons he is learning from former Red Sox catcher and captain Jason Varitek.

"Great, great teacher," Vazquez said of Varitek, per MLB.com. "I call him the Google of baseball. It's so great to have somebody like him. It's a pleasure.

"Right now, we're working on receiving and getting the ball to travel more and just let it breathe. That's helped me. Varitek tells me I need to talk to each pitcher about what he likes, what he doesn't like. It's very important to get that trust. I'm like a manager now. I need to be in charge, calling games.

"I'm ready to help this team to win and help my teammates. We have a great group of pitchers here and we're trying to win this year and get to the playoffs. I'm here to win and helping the team. I'm excited to be here."

Angels pitcher Atahualpa Severino and catcher Carlos Perez did not report to camp due to visa issues, according to MLB.com.

Both players joined the team during the offseason, and will compete for spots during camp. It's unclear how soon either player will be able to report. 

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday he has all the faith in the world catcher James McCann can be a starter in the majors.

"He's a guy we look forward to being an everyday starter at the major league level," Dombrowski said. 

McCann appeared in nine games for Detroit in 2014, hitting .250 in 12 at-bats with two runs scored. McCann is currently the third catcher on the Tigers' roster, behind Alex Avila and Bryan Holaday.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez wasn't overly impressive at the plate as a rookie in 2014, batting .240 with one home run in 55 games. However, the Red Sox hardly feel Vazquez will be just a defensive option for the team.

"Setting aside the batting average, there's the ability to handle the bat," Red Sox manager John Farrell said, per MLB.com. "He can execute the small game. He can hit to the situation. He's a very good situational hitter, including being able to sacrifice with great consistency."

Vazquez is in line to be Boston's primary catcher in 2015. And if the 24-year-old catcher had it his way, he'd never take a game off.

"He wants to play every day," Farrell said. "He's adamant about it. When he's not in the lineup, he's respectful of it, but he makes it known that he wants to catch every day."