MLB Player News

Vazquez is batting .167/.286/.278 over 10 Grapefruit League games.

Vazquez exploded for 23 home runs and a career-best .797 OPS in 2019, but the underlying advanced metrics don't indicate much difference than 2018, when he had three homers and a .540 OPS. There's reason to believe Vazquez will regress in 2020, but he's locked down the starting catcher job based on his defensive reputation. If the bat eventually becomes unplayable, the winner of the Kevin Plawecki/Jonathan Lucroy battle to be Vazquez's backup could get an increase in playing time.

General manager Brian Cashman said Friday that Sanchez has "improved" since being diagnosed with the flu Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez was hampered by lower-back tightness early in spring training and was later diagnosed with the flu Tuesday. Although all spring training activities have been suspended for the foreseeable future, Sanchez's improved physical state could allow him to ramp up baseball activities in the coming days, wherever he may decide to do so. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported earlier Friday that the majority of Yankees players plan on continuing informal workouts at the team's Tampa facility, so Sanchez could decide to do the same when he feels healthy enough.

Wynns (groin) will catch and bat eighth Thursday in the Orioles' Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Since being scratched from the lineup ahead of a March 4 game against the Marlins with a sore groin, Wynns has proceeded to appear in four spring contests, all as a reserve. The fact that he's now been cleared to start behind the dish suggests he's in sound health and shouldn't be hampered by injury in his bid for the Orioles' No. 2 catching job.

Plawecki went 1-for-2 with a double in Wednesday's spring game against the Rays.

Plawecki is 9-for-19 (.474) with a double and two RBI over 10 games. That line holds up well as the 29-year-old backstop competes with the 33-year-old Jonathan Lucroy for the backup catcher position. Both players have done enough to win the job, so the decision-making process will play itself out over the final two weeks. Plawecki comes at a cheaper price tag, but the Red Sox have financial flexibility after trading Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, and interim manager Ron Roenicke has history with Lucroy from their days with the Brewers.

Sanchez (back) tested positive for the flu Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez was scheduled to take part in catching drills and batting practice this week before returning to game action Friday, but the illness will set him back a few days.

Murphy went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in a Cactus League win over the Rangers on Monday.

It was the first round tripper of Cactus League play for the promising backstop, who was eased into spring following offseason knee surgery and didn't see game action until March 2. Murphy, who'll be the starting catcher in 2020, has made good use of his limited opportunities thus far, hitting .375 (3-for-8) over his first 10 spring plate appearances.

Jansen went 1-for-3 with a grand slam in Monday's split-squad game against the Rays.

After Blake Snell had walked four of the first five batters he faced and gotten the hook, Trevor Richards entered the game and was promptly taken deep by Jansen on his second pitch. The 24-year-old catcher focused on improving his hitting routine and swing mechanics this offseason and the work has paid off in spades so far, as Jansen now sports a .429/.529/1.071 slash line through 17 plate appearances with three homers and a 3:1 BB:K. After a disappointing 2019 campaign at the plate, Jansen could be poised for a breakout.

Sanchez (back) missed his scheduled batting practice Tuesday due to a fever, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

It initially appeared as though Sanchez's back was still bothering him when his hitting session was canceled, but he's evidently dealing with an unrelated issue. He was previously expected to return to game action Friday, but the loss of another day or two due to illness will probably push that back by a few days.

Sanchez (back) didn't take part in on-field batting practice as planned Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The Yankees have scheduled Sanchez to hit each of the previous three days, only for those plans to be tabled. Sanchez's lower back is evidently still presenting some discomfort, but at this stage, the Yankees are viewing his injury as a day-to-day concern. He's still expected to catch side sessions the next two days while the Yankees are traveling, so if Sanchez fares well in those workouts, he could be cleared to re-enter the Grapefruit League lineup at some point over the weekend.

Sanchez (back) is feeling better but won't return to game action until at least Friday, Anthony Rieber of Newsday Sports reports.

Sanchez is scheduled to take batting practice Monday, but manager Aaron Boone said he likely won't return to game action until Friday mainly due to the Yankees' schedule over the next several days. The 27-year-old is also scheduled to work on catching duties Monday and appears to be trending to a full workload ahead of his likely return to the starting lineup.