MLB Player News

Quero isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

Quero will get a chance to rest Friday after going 8-for-24 with four RBI and a run scored through his first eight career MLB games. Matt Thaiss fill in behind the plate and bat sixth.

Diaz is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Kansas City, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz caught all three games of the Astros' previous series against the Blue Jays, so he'll get a breather Friday. Victor Caratini is behind the dish and batting seventh for Houston.

Perez is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Astros.

It's the first day off this season for Perez, who played both legs of a doubleheader Thursday (one at catcher, one at designated hitter). Freddy Fermin will catch and bat eighth for the Royals in Friday's series opener.

Basallo (hamstring/elbow) is starting at designated hitter Friday for Triple-A Norfolk.

As expected, Basallo is back off the injured list as the DH, with the expectation he will be ready to get back behind the plate in May. He had a .250/.318/.550 slash line with two home runs and four strikeouts in seven games before landing on the IL.

The Twins outrighted Cartaya to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. Cartaya was acquired via trade from the Dodgers over the offseason and is just 2-for-25 with an 18:4 K:BB in his first 29 plate appearances with St. Paul this season.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Thursday that Ryan Jeffers will take on a larger role, which will result in fewer starts for Vazquez, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The catching duo has split playing time fairly evenly across the past two seasons, and Jeffers has made 14 starts to Vazquez's 11 early in 2025. The Twins are changing their strategy behind the plate, however, with Vazquez's career .581 OPS with the club finally catching up to him. The veteran backstop still brings plenty of defensive value and is a good fit as a backup catcher, but it should be Jeffers that receives the lion's share of the starts from now on.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Thursday that Jeffers will operate as more of an everyday catcher going forward, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Jeffers and Christian Vazquez each made 81 starts behind the plate last season, and they've had a fairly even split of playing time early in 2025 with 14 and 11 starts, respectively. Vazquez's continued offensive struggles (career .581 OPS with Minnesota) will finally prompt a strategy change, with Jeffers now poised to operate as more of a clear No. 1 catcher. The 27-year-old hasn't been particularly productive through 67 plate appearances himself with a .254/.343/.339 slash line, but he had a .732 OPS in 2024 and carries more upside than Vazquez.

Narvaez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners.

The backstop cut the Red Sox's deficit to one in the eighth inning with an opposite-field blast off Gabe Speier. It's Narvaez's second homer this year, both of which have come in his last five games. The 26-year-old is slashing .210/.269/.371 with eight runs scored and six RBI through 67 plate appearances this season, though he'll likely be relegated to backup duties soon with Connor Wong (finger) scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.

Heim went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics.

Heim hit one of three Texas solo home runs in the fourth inning. It was the fourth homer of the season for the backstop, who has scuffled of late with a .167 batting average (4-for-24) over the last eight contests.

Vazquez went 2-for-3 with two doubles in Thursday's 3-0 loss to the White Sox.

Vazquez entered the game hitting just .100/.152/.167 and was losing playing time, so this was a much needed performance. Manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minnesota Star Tribune Thursday that Ryan Jeffers will get more playing time with Vazquez's slow start.