MLB Player News

The Giants have traded catcher Johnny Monell to the Orioles for cash considerations on Saturday, according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Monell will likely compete for the team's backup job. He went .275/.364/.494 with 20 homers and 64 RBI last season in Triple-A Fresno.

The Giants have designated catcher Johnny Monell and outfielder Francisco Peguero for assignment, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Monell hit .275/.364/.494 with 20 home runs and 64 RBI in 415 at-bats with Triple-A Fresno last season in his first extended action at the Triple-A level. Peguero went 6 of 29 with one home run for the Giants and hit .316/.354/.408 with three home runs and 30 RBI in 272 at-bats with Triple-A Fresno.

The Reds added outfielders Juan Duran and Ryan LaMarre, catcher Tucker Barnhart and pitcher Chad Rogers to the 40-man roster Wednesday.

Duran hit .251/.323/.450 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI in 407 at-bats with high Class A Bakersfield last season, his second in Bakersfield. LaMarre hit .246/.326/.373 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 451 at-bats during his second full season with Double-A Pensacola. Barnhart hit .260/.348/.348 with three home runs and 44 RBI in 339 at-bats during his first full season with Double-A Pensacola.

Rogers went 8-7 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 103:45 K:BB ratio in 140 innings over 25 starts between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville.

The San Diego Padres made a series of roster moves Monday as they reinstated pitchers Casey Kelly, Jason Marquis and catcher Yasmani Grandal from the 60-day disabled list. Marquis then declared for free agency.

Infielder Ronny Cedeno and outfielder Mark Kotsay also declared free agency. Kotsay said he was going to retire back in September after 17 seasons, including two stints in San Diego. Pitcher Tommy Layne, who had been designated for assignment last week, has been outrighted to Triple-A Reno.

Kelly and Grandal are both coming off major surgeries. Kelly, the team's No. 3 prospect, according to MLB.com, had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in April. He won't be ready for the 2014 regular season. Grandal had surgery to repair his right anterior cruciate ligament Aug. 6. He said he expects to be ready for spring training.

With catcher Brian McCann heading into free agency this offseason, the Braves face uncertainty at the catcher position for the first time in eight years. Manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated Wednesday that Evan Gattis, Gerald Laird and Christian Bethancourt are all in the mix for playing time behind the plate, MLB.com reports.

"Maybe not knowing what's going on, but you give Bethancourt a little chance and bring him along a little bit," Gonzalez told MLB.com. "Go with Gattis and Laird, and throw Bethancourt a bone every once in a while, put Gattis out in left field because we know that he can do it."

McCann played 92 games behind the plate in 2013, including 91 starts and 84 complete games. Gattis made 42 appearances and 38 starts at catcher while drawing 48 appearances (47 starts) in left field, as well as four appearances at first base. Laird was the only other Brave to draw playing time at catcher, making 40 appearances and 33 starts at the position.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud went 0 for 2 with a walk in his return to the starting lineup Thursday against the Giants. He missed just one game after suffering a shoulder injury Tuesday.

The rookie backstop has hit .163/.236/.225 with one home runs and four RBI in 80 at-bats with the Mets. He's just 6 for 44 with no extra-base hits in September, and Thursday's walk was his first of the month.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is back in the team's starting lineup Thursday against the Giants.

d'Arnaud did not play Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game with a shoulder injury. He's hitting .167 in 78 at-bats. 

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is out for Wednesday's game against San Francisco with a sore shoulder, ESPN New York reports. The catcher left Tuesday's game with the injury after one at-bat and should be considered day-to-day.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud was forced out of Tuesday's game against the Giants with a sore shoulder. He took a foul tip off the shoulder in the second innings and was replaced by Anthony Recker to start the third inning.

He is hitting .167/.233/.231 with one home run and four RBI in 78 at-bats.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is not in the team's starting lineup Thursday against the Nationals.

a'Arnaud admitted recently that he's been struggling at the plate, which may be the reason for his absence. He's hitting .152 in 66 at-bats in the majors.