MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Rortvedt could make the Opening Day roster, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

In order for Rortvedt to break camp with the big club, the Yankees would almost certainly need to decide to carry three catchers, as Jose Trevino and Austin Wells are locked in as the top two backstop options. Rortvedt got into 15 games this spring and slashed .231/.375/.269 with one extra-base hit (a double), but the primary reason why he may have a chance of sticking on the roster is that he is out of minor-league options. Even if he does make the cut for Opening Day, Rortvedt isn't likely to see much playing time.

Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Wells has made the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The focus for Wells heading into spring training was getting reps behind the plate and showcasing better defense. In addition to doing those things, Wells has also been efficient at the plate, slashing .300/.391/.550 with two home runs and nine RBI over 40 at-bats in spring training. The 25-year-old will begin 2024 as the secondary backstop behind Jose Trevino, with Ben Rortvedt and Jahmai Jones battling it out for a roster spot.

The White Sox recalled Lee from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Lee was just optioned last week but is back to take the injured Max Stassi's (hip) spot on the roster. The 25-year-old will serve as Martin Maldonado's backup behind the plate to begin the season.

The White Sox placed Stassi on the 10-day injured list Monday with left hip inflammation, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Stassi missed the entire 2023 season because of a hip injury in addition to a serious family medical issue, and it would appear the hip problem is still nagging at him. Korey Lee will now open the season as Martin Maldonado's backup.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Sunday that Stassi's availability for Opening Day is up in the air due to unspecified soreness, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Stassi sat out last season due to a hip injury and a serious family medical issue, and it's unclear if the current problem is related to his hip. Korey Lee is likely to begin the season as Chicago's backup catcher should Stassi require a trip to the injured list.

Serven will be on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Serven registered five hits in 23 at-bats this spring -- three of which were home runs -- and drove in 12 RBI. However, his performance likely didn't factor into the decision to keep him on the roster as much as Danny Jansen's (wrist) imminent trip to the injured list. Serven will open the year as the backup to Alejandro Kirk.

Susac, who went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a three-run shot in a Cactus League win over the Reds on Friday, is likely to begin the season at Double-A Midland but could conceivably get a major-league opportunity soon, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Susac, a first-round pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, has shown plenty of upside as a hitter during his first two seasons as a professional, and his success at High-A Lansing to begin last season resulted in a promotion to Midland before the end of the campaign. Susac slashed .280/.304/.360 against Double-A arms in a 13-game cameo, and if he's able to pick up where he left off with the RockHounds, he could soon find himself at Triple-A Las Vegas, at minimum. A's director of player development Ed Sprague believes there's still more power to unlock with Susac and also praised the way the 22-year-old's defensive work behind the dish improved as the 2023 campaign unfolded.

Jackson is in line to begin the regular season as the Rays' backup catcher, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays informed Rob Brantly and Francisco Mejia that they didn't make the Opening Day roster, leaving Jackson as the choice to back up Rene Pinto. Jackson has had a poor spring training, striking out 35.5 percent of the time with only one extra-base hit across 31 plate appearances. Nevertheless, he's in line to get his first taste of the majors since 2022.

The Rays informed Mejia that he did not make the Opening Day roster Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mejia was signed in late February and was competing for the backup catcher job. He made plenty of contact across 16 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action, though he didn't make enough of an impression to secure a roster spot.

Brantly was informed Friday that he did not make the big-league roster out of spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brantly joined the Rays on a minor-league deal in January, and he was in the mix to back up Rene Pinto behind the dish. He hit well across 16 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action, and the team has said they hope to keep Brantly in the organization to serve as depth.