MLB Player News

McGuire was designated for assignment as expected Thursday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

There was some thought over the offseason that his lack of options would keep him on the roster despite the obvious talent of Alejandro Kirk, but the Jays evidently decided that potentially losing McGuire was an acceptable outcome. The 26-year-old's career .243/.281/.444 slash line in 63 major-league games could be decent enough for another team to claim him off waivers, especially as he has a solid defensive reputation.

Perez will start at catcher and bat eighth Thursday against the Tigers.

Heading into the final year of the four-year, $9 million deal he inked in April 2017, Perez remains locked in as Cleveland's top backstop ahead of Austin Hedges. Perez is well regarded for his game-calling and defensive abilities, but he regressed mightily in 2020 after slugging a career-high 24 homers in 2019. Over 110 plate appearances last season, Perez managed a lowly .165/.264/.216 slash line while striking out at a career-high 34.5 percent rate. Though he projects to have one of the larger workloads in baseball, his shortcomings at the plate render him a low-end fantasy option.

Vazquez (eye) and the Red Sox won't play the Orioles on Thursday after their Opening Day game was postponed due to rain, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The two teams are now scheduled to play their season opener Friday, which was initially set to be an off day for both sides. Vazquez was sidelined late in the Red Sox's Grapefruit League schedule to an eye contusion and laceration, but he's expected to be behind the plate Friday, working in a battery with Nathan Eovaldi.

The Blue Jays are expected to designate McGuire for assignment prior to Opening Day, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

McGuire's fate was sealed after the Blue Jays informed Alejandro Kirk earlier this week that he would be included on the Opening Day roster as the No. 2 catcher behind Danny Jansen. Since the Blue Jays prefer to use their 26th and final active roster spot on a pitcher rather than a third catcher, McGuire -- who has no minor-league options remaining -- will likely be cast off the 40-man roster and exposed to waivers. The 26-year-old could have some appeal to other organizations who aren't satisfied with their current No. 2 options at catcher heading into Opening Day.

Collins will be on the White Sox's Opening Day roster as expected, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Collins' path appeared to be clear after the White Sox released Jonathan Lucroy, and he will indeed open the year as Yasmani Grandal's backup. Fellow bat-first catcher Yermin Mercedes has also made the team. Both Collins and Mercedes could spend time at designated hitter if the White Sox go forward with their plan of using Andrew Vaughn in left field.

The Tigers reassigned Haase on Tuesday to their alternate training site in Toledo.

Haase will be joined at the alternate site by fellow backstop Dustin Garneau after both players missed out on winning either of the available catching jobs with Detroit this spring. Both Haase and Garneau are expected to be part of the Triple-A Toledo roster when the minor-league season begins in May.

Stubbs cleared the health and safety protocols and returned to workouts Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Stubbs was informed Monday that he won't be on the Opening Day roster, but that was seemingly unrelated to his temporary quarantine. Martin Maldonado and Jason Castro will be the Astros' primary catchers this season, with Stubbs filling in whenever there's an injury.

Huff (hamstring) is progressing and entering the final stages of rehab, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Huff will undergo one more MRI before ramping up to full activity. The power-hitting catching prospect made his MLB debut during the shortened 2020 season but skipped Double- and Triple-A to do it. The Rangers may have Huff start the season in the minors while Jose Trevino and Jonah Heim handle catching duties for Texas.

Vazquez (eye) remained out of the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, but he was able to catch teammate Eduardo Rodriguez's (arm) bullpen session, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Vazquez isn't quite back to 100 percent after he suffered an eye laceration and contusion last week that required stitches, but the Red Sox remain fairly confident that he'll be ready to go for Thursday's season opener versus the Orioles. The backstop will have his stitches removed early in the day Thursday, and if that extraction goes as planned, he should be cleared to catch Opening Day starter Nathan Eovaldi.

Stubbs (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) was informed Monday that he wouldn't be included on the Astros' Opening Day roster, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Stubbs recently began a quarantine period away from the team due to contact-tracing concerns, but that likely didn't play a factor in him missing out on the Opening Day roster. Instead, Martin Maldonado and Jason Castro had been locked in all spring as the Astros' top two catchers, leaving no room for Stubbs. Once he clears all COVID-19 protocols, Stubbs will report to the Astros' alternate site before likely heading to Triple-A Sugar Land when the minor-league season begins in May.