MLB Player News

The Giants avoided arbitration with catcher Hector Sanchez, agreeing to a one-year, $800,000 contract, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Sanchez hit .196 with three home runs and 28 RBI in 66 games last season.

The Pirates have tendered a contract to 11 arbitration-eligible players prior to Tuesday's deadline, according to the team's official website. Those players include: Sean Rodriguez, Neil Walker, Francisco Cervelli, Mark Melancon, Chris Stewart, Travis Snider, Pedro Alvarez, Tony Watson, Josh Harrison, Jared Hughes and Vance Worley.

The Giants have tendered contracts to all six arbitration-eligible players, per the team's official website on Tuesday. Those players include: Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Gregor Blanco, Hector Sanchez, Travis Ishikawa and Yusmeiro Petit.

Padres vice president of scouting operations Don Welke said he heard good things about catcher Yasmani Grandal, who hit .328 with a .469 on-base percentage in the Dominican winter league. He also had seven doubles, two homers and 14 RBI in 19 games, while totaling 18 walks against 15 strikeouts.

"The reports were all good on Grandal," Welke said, per MLB.com. "He looked sharper offensively and defensively. You know he's doing good when quite a few teams express interest in him. I think he's got a chance to have a lot of impact."

The Mets have signed catcher Johnny Monell to a minor-league deal.

Monell spent time with the Orioles and Dodgers last season. He hit .238/.301/.364 over 206 at-bats in Triple-A. 

The Mets announced catcher Travis d'Arnaud will rehab 6-8 weeks following surgery Tuesday to have a bone chip removed from his elbow, according to the New York Post.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez (foot) and catcher Chris Stewart (wrist) are not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's wild-card game against the Giants. Alvarez hasn't played since Sept. 5, while Stewart sits in favor of regular starter Russell Martin.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud had successful surgery Wednesday to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, a source told the New York Daily News.

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart suffered a wrist injury in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Reds after going 2 for 3 at the plate, but X-rays on the injured wrist came back negative, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Stewart indicated that the wrist was stiff and sore after the game. His availability for Wednesday's Wild Card matchup is in doubt, and regular starting catcher Russell Martin is also banged up.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is in the lineup and batting cleanup in Saturday's matchup with the Pirates.

Mesoraco was given the night off Friday as he deals with an intercostal strain, but he's coming back one day later as expected. The catcher has hit .276/.360/.541 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI in 377 at-bats.