MLB Player News

Jackson was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Jackson made three Grapefruit League appearances this spring and went 0-for-5 with a walk and a strikeout. Since Jackson and Nick Fortes were both sent down Saturday, it appears as though Payton Henry will begin the year as the primary backup at catcher.

Fortes was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Fortes appeared in three Grapefruit League games this spring and went 1-for-6 with a run. He should see regular playing time in Jacksonville to begin the year and will be an option to serve as depth behind the dish for the major-league club at some point.

McCann (back) is expected to return to game action Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

A Tuesday return would see McCann miss one week with back tightness. He'll still have over a week to get up to speed before Opening Day if he makes it back at that point.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

The Mets' top prospect didn't start the game and his long ball came in the eighth inning against career minor-leaguer Aneurys Zabala, but it was still an impressive display from Alvarez. The catcher slugged 22 homers with an .889 OPS in 84 games for High-A Brooklyn last season as a teenager, and how he performs against much older pitchers in the high minors this year will go a long way toward determining his big-league ETA.

McCann (back) isn't starting Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McCann was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to back tightness, and he'll remain out of the lineup following Wednesday's day off. The team doesn't believe the 31-year-old's injury is serious, but Hayden Senger will start behind the dish and bat ninth Thursday.

Barnes (head) will start at catcher and bat seventh in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Just as manager Dave Roberts suggested Wednesday would be the case, Barnes is back in action following a two-day breather after he was struck in the catcher's mask by a foul tip in Monday's game against the White Sox. Barnes passed all concussion tests administered after exiting Monday's contest, and after experiencing no setbacks in the two days that followed, he'll be ready to handle his normal duties behind the plate. He'll likely form a battery with Clayton Kershaw on the days the veteran lefty pitches, but beyond that, Barnes may only get an additional start or two per week while No. 1 backstop Will Smith is at full health.

Casali agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Giants on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Casali joined the Giants last season and had a .663 OPS while operating as the backup to Buster Posey. Casali and Joey Bart are set to split catching duties this season in the wake of Posey's retirement.

Contreras and the Cubs did not reach a deal Tuesday and will head to an arbitration hearing, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Tuesday marked the deadline for arbitration-eligible players to reach a deal with their teams without a hearing. Chicago could decide to trade its top catcher after moving cornerstone players Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez before last season's trade deadline. Contreras is under team control through the end of this year, so he'll be a logical trade candidate as long as no extension is in place.

McCann was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros due to back tightness, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McCann is scheduled to receive further evaluation from the Mets' training staff, but the team doesn't believe the injury is a serious concern at this juncture. Tomas Nido will get the nod at catcher in McCann's stead, forming a battery with ace Jacob deGrom in the latter's first start of the spring.

Caratini and the Padres agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal Tuesday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

The contract means the two sides won't have to go through arbitration. Caratini will be part of a crowded catcher depth chart in San Diego this season, with Austin Nola, Jorge Alfaro and Luis Campusano all competing for playing time.