MLB Player News

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has played seven games and reached base safely in each after Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings win over the Marlins. He had two singles and a walk to give him a line of .273/.414/.409 in 29 plate appearances and could see extra playing time with Ryan Hanigan dealing with a thumb injury.

Mets prospect Travis d'Arnaud will not require surgery on a broken bone in his foot, but he is still expected to miss up to eight weeks while recovering. The team's top return in the R.A. Dickey trade this offseason appears to have avoided a worst-case scenario, after fracturing the first metatarsal in his left foot after being hit by a foul ball.

"Anytime they say it's six-to-eight weeks, it could be sooner," manager Terry Collins told the New York Post. "It could be four; but even if it is, he’s not going to play for another two or three weeks, so I just said eight."

d'Arnaud entered the season as the No. 23 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, and he was putting up a .901 on-base plus slugging percentage at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Travis d'Arnaud will miss eight weeks with a broken foot but will avoid surgery, manager Terry Collins told ESPN New York's Adam Rubin.

The Mets set a soft 4-8 week timetable before getting an opinion from their team doctor. Unfortunately for d'Arnaud, he'll be at the long end of that timetable. The top prospect was hitting .250/.427/.492 with five doubles and a home run in 12 games for Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Mets catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud will probably be out 4-8 weeks before he can resume baseball activities, a source told the New York Post. But the team doctors want to evaluate d'Arnaud before setting a timetable. 

d'Arnaud has a non-displaced fracture of the first metatarsal in his left foot and has been placed in a walking boot. d'Arnaud suffered the injury after taking a foul ball off his left foot Wednesday for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Mets catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud, who left Wednesday's game for Triple-A Las Vegas, has a bruised left foot, according to ESPN. He has a non-displaced fracture of the first metatarsal and has been placed in a walking boot.

d'Arnaud suffered the injury after taking a foul ball off his left foot. He's returned to New York to be examined.

Mets manager Terry Collins reiterated Wednesday he would find room in the lineup for John Buck and Travis d'Arnaud, when d'Arnaud is promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas, according to the New York Daily News.

Collins said Buck could play at first base, but nothing is imminent because d'Arnaud is not ready.

“I talked to (Triple-A manager) Wally Backman, the other day and asked how d’Arnaud was doing and he said he has to play a little more every day,” Collins said.

ESPN reported Thursday morning d'Arnaud was removed from Wednesday's game for Las Vegas with an apparent injury, but nothing has been reported from the team.

d'Arnaud is batting .250 (9 for 36) with one home run, five doubles and eight RBI in 12 games.

If Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton becomes available in a trade, the Mets would have interest, according to the New York Daily News. The paper reports the Mets continue to monitor Stanton's situation, and realize a deal would likely have to include prospects Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud.

Even though the Mets just acquired d'Arnaud in the offseason, one Mets' official said that wouldn't keep the team from moving the top catcher prospect.

"You can figure the catching out later," the official said. "You have John Buck now, and hey, Brian McCann is going to be a free agent."

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that he would consider keeping Hector Sanchez as Tim Lincecum's personal catcher going forward, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Sanchez started over Buster Posey against the Rockies with Lincecum on the hill. 

Bochy said it would be comfortable for both to keep in that way. Sanchez made just his second start on Tuesday as he was behind the plate in Lincecum's first start of the year. He entered Tuesday having gone 1 for 5 to this point without a run scored or RBI. 

I know it's very early in the season and could be a little early to plant this seed, but it's probably an interesting enough topic: If John Buck is still one of the Mets' top hitters by the end of May, does his presence keep New York from promoting uber prospect Travis d'Arnaud?

Now, history tells us it's unlikely Buck keeps up his current offensive pace because he's never been this good of a hitter for an entire season. While Buck has good pop for a catcher, he's also been very streaky. But let's say Buck defies the odds and is somehow on a good run a few months into the season and the Mets are still winning. What will or should the Mets do?

I only bring this up because d'Arnaud is one of the most owned minor leaguers (43 percent) and at the outset of the season everyone knew Buck was just keeping the catcher spot warm until d'Arnaud was ready. But it wouldn't surprise me if d'Arnaud's arrival is delayed if down the road the Mets are still winning and Buck is a large part of their success. You also have to consider his defensive presence. If the Mets' pitching staff is thriving because of Buck's abilities behind the plate, then it could be another reason Buck blocks d'Arnaud's path to the minors.

Brewers utility man Martin Maldonado earned the start at first base and enjoyed a big day at the plate during Monday's series opener against the Cubs.

Maldonado launched a bases-clearing double in the first inning and singled in the fifth and seventh. He finished 3 for 5 with three RBI in a 7-4 victory. The 25-year-old is hitting .286/.333/.429 with a home run and four RBI though his first 14 at-bats.