MLB Player News

Knapp signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Knapp spent all of the 2023 season at the Triple-A level between the Tigers and Astros organizations, posting a .705 OPS with nine homers. He's slashed .209/.310/.313 over parts of six seasons in the majors and will compete for the right to back up Jonah Heim at catcher.

Maldonado signed a one-year contract with the White Sox on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the deal is for $4 million and also includes a $4 million vesting option for 2025. With the White Sox searching for a solution behind the plate, they will bring in Maldonado to reunite with Korey Lee in Chicago's catcher room. The 37-year-old Maldonado will likely still have the upper hand over Lee in the battle for playing time, but after slashing .183/.260/.333 across the past three seasons, Maldonado's days as a viable fantasy option are seemingly over.

Wallach signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Wallach will return to the Angels organization for a third season after slashing .188/.254/.354 with the major-league club across the past two years. Los Angeles already has plenty of options behind the plate at the big-league level, so Wallach will likely fill in as organizational depth with Triple-A Salt Lake.

Mejia signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Mejia slashed .227/.258/.400 across 160 plate appearances with the Rays last season. His deal includes an invite to major-league camp, where he will presumably compete with Matt Thaiss for the backup catcher spot behind Logan O'Hoppe.

The Tigers designated Sands for assignment Friday.

Dropping Sands from the 40-man roster clears room for Shelby Miller, who agreed to a one-year deal with Detroit on Friday. Sands spent most of last season at Triple-A Toledo, where he slashed .225/.318/.353 with 36 RBI across 371 plate appearances.

Kolozsvary signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Kolozsvary saw spot duty in the big leagues with the Reds and Orioles the last two seasons, going 4-for-20 at the plate. The 28-year-old is in line to begin the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Worcester as catching depth.

Perez (shoulder) signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Perez made the Giants' Opening Day roster out of spring training last year, but he tore his right rotator cuff in early April and underwent season-ending surgery. The veteran catcher is a career .207/.298/.358 hitter in 1,769 plate appearances at the major-league level and turns 35 years old later this month.

Hedges agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Guardians on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Hedges split last season between Pittsburgh and Texas but will make a 2024 return to Cleveland, where he made 199 appearances from 2020 to 2022. The veteran backstop brings little offensively with a .478 OPS over the past two years but provides strong defense. Hedges should fill the backup job at catcher behind youngster Bo Naylor for the Guardians.

Atlanta traded Stassi (hip/personal) and cash considerations to the White Sox on Saturday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.

Stassi was traded from the Angels to Atlanta on Friday, but it was assumed Atlanta would quickly send Stassi elsewhere given the presence of Sean Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud. Stassi slashed .180/.267/.303 in 375 plate appearances in 2022, and he failed to appear in a game last season due to a hip injury and a serious family medical issue. Stassi's extended time away from baseball means he will have to compete for a spot on the White Sox's Opening Day roster, but a weak catcher room in Chicago keeps him in the running for the starting job.

Bemboom signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Bemboom entered free agency in the offseason after two seasons with Baltimore, where he slashed .127/.225/.206 across 72 total plate appearances. Given Bemboom's poor major-league history, he likely won't offer the Tigers much more than organizational depth behind the dish.