MLB Player News

Leon signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Cleveland on Monday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Cleveland clearly wanted to keep the catcher around after acquiring him in a trade from Boston earlier in the day. He lines up as the backup behind Roberto Perez.

McCann agreed to a one-year, $5.4 million deal with the White Sox, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

While the signing of Yasmani Grandal greatly reduces McCann's role with Chicago going forward, he was worth 2.3 fWAR in 476 plate appearances last year, so it would have been surprising to see him non-tendered. McCann enters 2020 as one of the better backup catchers in the American League.

Leon was traded to the Indians on Monday in exchange for Adenys Bautista.

Leon served as the backup catcher for the Red Sox, and he will likely take on a similar role for the Indians behind Roberto Perez (ankle), who had surgery in October but is expected to be ready for spring training. Over 65 games in 2019, Leon hit .192/.251/.297 with just five home runs and 19 RBI.

McCann will still have a role with the White Sox following the signing of Yasmani Grandal, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

McCann hit an unexpectedly strong .273/.328/.460 and made the All-Star team in 2019, though Grandal deservedly has the greater reputation between the pair. It would be a surprise to see McCann match his career-high 476 plate appearances in the upcoming season, but the White Sox will look to keep him as involved as possible, utilizing the designated hitter spot frequently for both catchers.

Perez signed a minor-league contract with Oakland on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training.

Perez will open spring with the big-league club, though he spent the majority of the 2019 campaign at Double-A Bowie, where he slashed .251/.302/.434 with 14 homers and 60 RBI in 94 games.

Grandal signed a four-year, $73 million contract with the White Sox on Thursday.

Grandal hit 28 home runs with an .848 OPS on a one-year deal with the Brewers in 2019, and the risk of a short-term contract last year paid off with a long-term deal with the White Sox that is the largest in franchise history. The 31-year-old should benefit from hitter-friendly Guaranteed Rate Field as he figures to be a key contributor in the White Sox's lineup. Daniel Palka was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Stassi (hip) may not be ready to go by Opening Day, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Stassi underwent a hip procedure in late September that was expected to keep him out for 4-to-6 months. The back end of that window should have had him ready to go right around Opening Day, but he appears to be potentially a bit behind schedule since his availability for the start of the season is now in doubt.

Heim had his contract selected by the Athletics on Friday.

Oakland will protect Heim from the Rule 5 draft by placing him on the 40-man roster. He played in 35 games with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2019, hitting .358 with four homers and 19 RBI.

Maldonado went 1-for-1 with a solo home run Wednesday in a 12-3 loss to the Nationals in Game 2 of the World Series.

Maldonado entered the game in the top of the seventh after Kyle Tucker had pinch hit for starting catcher Robinson Chirinos. He homered off Javy Guerra in the ninth to round out the scoring, his second extra-base hit and first home run of the playoffs. A trade-deadline acquisition from the Cubs, Maldonado hit just .202 for the Astros during the regular season but did pop six home runs in his 27 games with the team.

Sanchez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 8-3 loss to the Astros in Game 4 of the ALCS.

Sanchez took Josh James deep in the sixth inning to pull the Yankees to within 6-3. He had entered the game with just two hits in 21 postseason at-bats, and Thursday's homer was his first extra-base knock. If the Yankees are going to stay alive in this series, a hot streak from Sanchez would be a big help.