MLB Player News

Mariners manager Scott Servais said Monday that Murphy (foot) has yet to resume baseball activities, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Though the Mariners dealt backstop Austin Nola to San Diego on Sunday, the move didn't foreshadow an impending return for Murphy, who appeared positioned to open the season as Seattle's top catcher before fracturing his left foot during summer camp. While his placement on the 45-day injured list makes him eligible to return in the first week of September, Murphy doesn't appear close to being ready for game action. Unless Murphy makes demonstrable progress in his recovery in the next week or two, he looks to be at risk of missing the entire season.

Higashioka (oblique) is "really close" to being ready to return and could do so in the next few days, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

Higashioka has been on the injured list since Aug. 8 but has recently begun to ramp up his activity. "Kyle's really close. I would expect him to be joining us in the next couple of days," manager Aaron Boone indicated Sunday. Kuty notes that the Yankees could be faced with having to either designate current backup catcher Erik Kratz for assignment or keep three catchers on the squad when Higashioka returns.

Hedges was traded from San Diego to Cleveland on Monday as part of a six-player package for Mike Clevinger, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Padres completely overhauled their catching depth chart Sunday, acquiring both Jason Castro and Austin Nola, leaving Hedges as surplus to requirements. The 28-year-old remains clearly a glove-first backstop, as his career slash line now sits at .199/.257/.359 midway through his sixth big-league campaign. He has just a .591 OPS this season, though Cleveland's incumbent catchers, Roberto Perez and Sandy Leon, have marks of .442 and .527, respectively, so he could have a shot to carve out a meaningful role.

Sanchez hit a go-ahead, pinch-hit grand slam during the win over the Mets in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader.

Sanchez broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning with his 453-foot pinch-hit blast. The 27-year-old is still struggling with a .134 average, but he does have six homers and 14 RBI on the season.

Sanchez is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Sanchez went 0-for-4 during the matinee and now has a .123/.245/.321 slash line through 26 games this season. Erik Kratz will work behind the plate for the Yankees in the nightcap.

Bemboom will start at catcher and will bat eighth Sunday against the Mariners.

Bemboom was expected to receive Sunday off, but he'll be in the lineup for a second straight contest after top backstop Jason Castro was scratched for an unspecified reason. In Saturday's 16-3 win, Bemboom was one of several Angels to enjoy a productive day at the dish, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored.

Nola is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Nola will get a much-deserved breather after starting in 12 consecutive games, with each of the last three coming at catcher. Joseph Odom will step in for Nola behind the dish Sunday, catching for starting pitcher Justin Dunn.

Jansen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Reese McGuire will step in behind the dish for Jansen, who looks to be receiving a routine maintenance day. Jansen caught the first two games of the series and went 1-for-7 with a double.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Vazquez will be getting a routine breather after starting nine consecutive games, including each of the last four at catcher. Kevin Plawecki will replace him behind the dish, catching for Zack Godley in the series finale.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Sitting for the third time in four games, Jeffers looks to have slipped behind Alex Avila on the depth chart. So long as Mitch Garver (side) remains on the injured list, the righty-hitting Jeffers should at least fill the short side of a platoon with the lefty-hitting Avila.