MLB Player News
-
Matt Thaiss C | BOS
Red Sox's Matt Thaiss: Misses out on Opening Day roster
The Red Sox reassigned Thaiss to minor-league camp Monday.
Thaiss attending spring training as a non-roster invitee but didn't make much of a push for a backup catcher spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster after posting a .560 OPS over 27 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League. With Boston also optioning Mickey Gasper to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, the Red Sox will head into Opening Day with Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong as their two catchers. Thaiss' minor-league deal contains an upward mobility clause that would allow him to pursue opportunities elsewhere, but he intends to remain in the organization and report to Worcester to begin the season, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
-
Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Returns to catching
Moreno started at catcher and went 3-for-4 with a double and two solo home runs in Sunday's spring game against the Padres.
Moreno was back behind the plate for the first time in two weeks. He dealt with forearm tightness for a stretch and returned to action last Thursday as the designated hitter. Now that Moreno is defending again, it looks like there will be no limitations for the catcher heading into Opening Day. He's batting .242 (6-for-33) with three homers and five RBI through 11 Cactus League contests. He and James McCann will split duties behind the plate, although Moreno could garner additional plate appearances as a DH when not behind the dish.
-
Korey Lee C | CHW
White Sox's Korey Lee: Set to miss cut
Lee will not be a part of the Opening Day roster with the White Sox, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Lee is set to be the odd man out after Chicago signed Reese McGuire to a one-year deal Sunday. Lee is getting moved/released by the team in the near future according to manager Will Venable, per Jon Greenberg of The Athletic. Lee remains with the organization for the time being, and he's batting ninth in a spring game against the Mariners on Sunday night. To this point in spring training, he has produced a .297 average with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored and four stolen bases over 37 at-bats in 14 contests.
-
Jhonny Pereda C | SEA
Mariners' Jhonny Pereda: Headed to Tacoma
Pereda was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.
Pereda was traded from the Twins to Seattle in January, and he was able to participate in spring training with the big-league club. The catcher batted .200 with a run scored and a stolen base over 25 at-bats in 15 contests. He'll now head to Tacoma ahead of the 2026 campaign.
-
Reese McGuire C | CHW
White Sox's Reese McGuire: Lands with White Sox
McGuire agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract Sunday.
The 31-year-old exercised his release clause Saturday after missing out on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, and it didn't take him long to land with a new club. McGuire should serve as a veteran backup catcher to Edgar Quero with Kyle Teel (hamstring) beginning the year on the injured list.
-
Brett Sullivan C | COL
Rockies' Brett Sullivan: Will be part of Opening Day roster
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer announced Sunday that Sullivan has secured a spot on the Opening Day roster, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Sullivan beat out Braxton Fulford for the Rockies' backup catcher gig during spring training. The Rockies are expected to formally select Sullivan's contract Friday, when the team sets its final roster ahead of the season opener in Miami. Sullivan split time between the Padres and Pirates organizations in 2025, seeing action in only three games in the majors while slashing .207/.264/.325 with four home runs and six stolen bases across 295 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. He's expected to play sparingly behind top backstop Hunter Goodman.
-
Braxton Fulford C | COL
Rockies' Braxton Fulford: Sent to Triple-A
The Rockies optioned Fulford to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Fulford had a .591 OPS in 38 games with the Rockies last season but was unable to win the backup catcher job during spring training. The 27-year-old could get called up by the Rockies if Hunter Goodman or Brett Sullivan suffer an injury.
-
J.C. Escarra C | NYY
Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Slated for No. 2 catcher role
Escarra is expected to serve as New York's backup catcher behind Austin Wells this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Escarra got his first taste of big-league action last season and posted a .202/.296/.33 slash line with two homers, 11 RBI, one stolen base and an 11:14 BB:K over 98 plate appearances. Both he and Wells bat left-handed, so Escarra's opportunities to play will likely come exclusively when Wells needs a rest day. Ben Rice, who's slated to be the team's primary first baseman, also has experience behind the plate and saw action at that position in 36 contests last year, though it's unclear how often (if at all) the Yankees will use him as a catcher this year.
-
Heriberto Hernandez C | MIA
Marlins' Heriberto Hernandez: Playing-time outlook improving
Hernandez is likely to see extra playing time in left field due to Kyle Stowers (hamstring) being set to begin the season on the IL, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Hernandez was initially see more time at DH while providing a platoon partner for Stowers in left field and Owen Caissie in right, but he now might need his glove more often. Griffin Conine will also have a big role in the LF/DH mix with Hernandez, while Connor Norby could also get some starts in left if he shows he's up to the task defensively. Hernandez is batting .226 (7-for-31) in 13 Grapefruit League games with three homers, four steals and a 6:9 BB:K.
-
Garrett Stubbs C | PHI
Phillies' Garrett Stubbs: Could be on move
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Sunday that Stubbs will be designated for assignment if the Phillies are unable to trade the 32-year-old catcher prior to Wednesday, Ty Daubert of PhilliesNation.com reports.
The Phillies will head into Opening Day with J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan as their two catchers, and since Stubbs has no minor-league options remaining, he'll have to be exposed to waivers if he isn't dealt. In an effort to strengthen his case for a roster spot, Stubbs played some third base and left field during the Grapefruit League, but it wasn't enough for the Phillies to keep him over Marchan.