MLB Player News

Mesoraco will be placed on the restricted list after declining a minor-league assignment, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

As expected, Mesoraco will shift to the restricted list after failing to make the Opening Day roster and refusing a minor-league assignment. He'll likely elect to retire following this latest development.

Mesoraco is expected to retire, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

The Mets, who informed Mesoraco over the weekend that he wouldn't be on their Opening Day roster, are expected to place the backstop on the restricted list, as he has no plans to accept his minor-league assignment (and the Mets don't want to release him). Should he call it quits, Mesoraco will end his career with a .232/.309/.406 triple-slash over parts of eight seasons.

Murphy was claimed off waivers by the Giants on Monday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Murphy has found a new home after being designated for assignment by the Rockies over the weekend. The backstop should immediately challenge Erik Kratz for a role as Buster Posey's backup. Both Murphy and Kratz are out of minor-league options, so perhaps the Giants will attempt to sneak one of them through waivers. Murphy hit .250/.323/.607 with three homers in 17 appearances this spring. He owns a career .219/.271/.439 with 10 homers across parts of four big-league seasons (81 games).

Murphy was designated for assignment by the Rockies, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

With Murphy hitting waivers, the Rockies will move forward with Chris Iannetta and Tony Wolters as their pairing behind the dish. The backstop hit a solid .250/.323/.607 with three homers and six RBI this spring, but the team opted to go with its stronger defensive options (Wolters and Iannetta) for its young pitching staff.

Davis was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Davis has appeared in 13 game for the Cubs over the last two seasons and had no clear path to an Opening Day roster spot with Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini both healthy. The 29-year-old is ticketed for another season at Iowa, where he has a .285/.352/.396 slash line across the last four seasons.

Nido appears set to make the Mets' Opening Day roster following Saturday's round of cuts, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets reassigned Devin Mesoraco to the minors Saturday, leaving Nido, Wilson Ramos and Travis d'Arnaud (elbow) as the only backstops left at big-league camp. D'Arnaud doesn't look on pace to be ready for the start of the regular season, so if he moves to the injured list, Nido would break camp with the club as the backup to Ramos. That role wouldn't afford Nido more than a couple starts per week, so he won't merit much consideration even in NL-only formats. Nido is held in higher regard for his solid defense and quality arm behind the plate rather than anything he offers offensively.

The Mets informed Mesoraco on Saturday that he wouldn't be included on their Opening Day roster, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Since the veteran catcher has no opt-out clause in his contract, the Mets may simply release him -- or even place him on the restricted list -- if he expresses no interest in a minor-league assignment. Mesoraco plans to contemplate his options and hope another team has a sudden need for extra depth behind the plate over the next few days.

Stallings (neck) is listed as an available bench option for Saturday's split-squad Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Jason Delay is also on hand as another reserve backstop, but the fact that Stallings will dress for the exhibition suggests the stiff neck that he first experienced Wednesday is no longer much of a concern. With Elias Diaz (illness) slated to open the season on the injured list, Stallings is poised to break camp as the top backup to No. 1 catcher Francisco Cervelli.

Gosewisch was informed Friday that he'll open the season at Triple-A San Antonio, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The news is no surprise, as Gosewisch is behind even third catcher Erik Kratz, who may not be able to make the team. Even if Kratz heads elsewhere, Gosewisch isn't guaranteed to be the next man up, as he doesn't have a 40-man roster spot.

Bart was reassigned to minor-league camp Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Bart left quite an impression during his first major-league spring training as he slashed .350/.381/.600 with two doubles and a home run in 20 at-bats. The 22-year-old spent the bulk of 2018 at Low-A Salem-Keizer and posted a .983 OPS, and is ticketed to begin the 2019 season at High-A San Jose.