MLB Player News

Trevino was sent from the Rangers to the Yankees on Saturday in exchange for Albert Abreu and Robert Ahlstrom.

Trevino started 81 games behind the plate for the Rangers last season but would have found it tough to repeat that number this season after the team acquired Mitch Garver from the Rangers. His expected playing-time split with new teammate Kyle Higashioka is not yet clear. Both backstops have good gloves but don't do much at the plate. Trevino owns a .634 career OPS in 156 major-league games, while Higashioka owns a similar .619 OPS in 139 MLB contests. Ben Rortvedt could also factor into the picture, but he's currently out with an oblique injury.

Maile (hamstring) will open the season on the injured list, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Maile was in camp on a minor-league deal and seemed to have a shot at the backup catcher job, but the hamstring injury he suffered while running the bases in late March put those plans on hold for now. Sandy Leon has also failed to make the team, leaving rookie Bryan Lavastida as the backup behind Austin Hedges.

With Riley Greene (foot) and Derek Hill (hamstring) both out to begin the regular season, Haase may see more playing time in the outfield, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Haase has been preparing for a versatile role. He can play behind the plate as well as in the outfield and potentially at first base. He should move around plenty this season, but his services may be needed in the outfield in the short term due to the injuries. The playing time should be there no matter where he slots in, so Haase remains a decent fantasy option at the catcher position.

Plawecki hit a two-run home run in his only plate appearance in Friday's spring training game against the Rays.

Plawecki launched his first spring homer in the final inning of a blowout loss. He's expected to once again serve as Christian Vazquez's backup. The 31-year-old backstop hasn't hurt fantasy teams during his two-year stay in Boston, slashing .305/.364/.414 over 262 plate appearances. If an auction/draft strategy involves not having a catcher hurt the fantasy team, Plawecki is a decent choice.

McGuire will likely begin the season on the big-league roster, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old catcher is out of minor-league options and sits third on the depth chart behind Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk, but the decision to allow 28-man rosters through April gives McGuire a reprieve for now and saves him from being placed on waivers. He's gone 2-for-20 (.100) this spring with zero extra-base hits and 0:4 BB:K.

Raleigh, who's hitting .278 with a home run and three RBI in nine Cactus League games, could be one of three catchers to make the Opening Day roster, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old backstop has shown some solid improvement at the plate this spring after producing a .180/.223/.309 slash line across his first 148 big-league plate appearances in 2021. Raleigh does have solid pedigree as an offensive player, highlighted by a stellar season at Triple-A Tacoma a year ago that saw him produce a .324 average and .985 OPS in 199 plate appearances. Kramer also notes Raleigh has worked well with the entire pitching staff this spring and already produced above-average defensive metrics during his first majors stint.

Rortvedt (oblique) isn't expected to be ready to play in any spring training games, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rortvedt was acquired in a trade with the Twins at the start of camp but has battled an oblique strain all spring. He's expected to eventually compete with Kyle Higashioka for starts behind the plate, but Higashioka appears to be penciled in as the primary catcher to start the season, with Rortvedt likely heading to the injured list.

Collins was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Collins' poor defense behind the plate has led the White Sox to prefer Seby Zavala as Yasmani Grandal's backup. As a prospect, Collins was once thought to have enough pop in his bat to have a shot at carving out a role as a designated hitter even if he couldn't stick behind the plate, but his .195/.315/.330 career slash line suggests that won't be happening.

Lee was reassigned to Houston's minor-league spring training Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Lee was in camp with the big-league club but was never a likely bet to make the Opening Day roster. He hit .254/.320/.443 with eight home runs and 27 RBI in 50 games for Double-A Corpus Christi before receiving a September promotion to Triple-A Sugar Land, where he's likely to open 2022.

Barnhart said he would be open to an extension with the Tigers, though no formal contract talks have taken place, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Barnhart was traded to the Tigers in November, and the team then exercised his club option for 2022. However, the catcher is open to sticking around past this season, and the organization has expressed some interest in finding a deal as well. For the time being, Barnhart will look to make a good first impression with his new team in the hopes of increasing the value of a potential new contract.