MLB Player News

Contreras is out of the lineup Sunday for Game 5 of the World Series against the Indians, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

As has been the case throughout the season, David Ross will start at catcher with battery mate Jon Lester on the mound, forcing Contreras to head to the bench. Contreras, who is batting 9-for-33 (.273) with one home run in 33 postseason at-bats, could be called upon as a pinch hitter if the right matchup presents itself.

Bethancourt will pitch in the Panama Winter League soon, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The Padres have been working with the catcher on his pitching mechanics, and he recently had his fastball clocked at 97 miles per hour. Bethancourt is even developing a changeup, although the Padres are still insisting that he is not fully converting to the mound. His role for the 2017 season should become clearer once he logs some innings in Panama, although his high-octane arm could push him to the bullpen more frequently if all goes well over the winter.

Mesoraco (hip, shoulder) was activated from the disabled list Thursday.

Mesoraco's 2016 season was one to forget, as he went 7-for-50 (.140) over 16 games before missing the remainder of the year with injuries. However, he'll have another chance to play at catcher this coming season and try to display the promise he did in 2014, when he hit .273/.359/.534.

The Reds plan to have Mesoraco (hip, shoulder) back behind the plate next season.

Following a breakout campaign in 2014, Mesoraco has combined to play in just 39 games over the past two seasons as he's required significant surgery on both his hip and left shoulder. He is expected to be ready to resume catching duties in mid-to-late January and Mesoraco is still just 28, but there are doubts about his ability to hold up to the rigors of catching duties. Tucker Barnhart took over for Mesoraco in 2016 and filled in capably behind the dish, but did little of note with the bat.

Grandal is not in the lineup Thursday for the Dodgers' Game 5 NLCS tilt with the Cubs.

Grandal has acted as the primary catcher for Los Angeles during the postseason, but given his poor .111 batting line during the playoffs, the Dodgers will give him the night off. Carlos Ruiz will slot into the lineup behind the plate in his stead.

The Cardinals outrighted Rosario off its 40-man major-league club.

His destination isn't yet known, but Rosario was at best the fourth catcher on the extended September roster anyway.

The Cardinals have removed Ohlman from their 40-man major-league roster.

The announcement doesn't yet say where he'll wind up, but he's so far down on this depth chart that he'll need dominoes to fall before he contributes at the big-league level.

Contreras is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday against the Giants, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Contreras caught in Game 2 and went 2-for-3 in the process, but he'll cycle out of the lineup once again. The Cubs will go with their third different catcher in three games, as after David Ross was behind the plate in Game 1, Miguel Montero will get a turn in Monday's Game 3.

Manager John Farrell said Vazquez could start Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Indians, with Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez was included on the postseason roster chiefly for his defense and ability to throw out base runners. The erratic but talented Rodriguez posted a 4.50 ERA in 22 innings this year with Vazquez behind the plate, but he fanned 25 in that sample, so it could wind up as a positive pairing.

Casali went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, a run-scoring double and two walks in Sunday's season-ending 6-4 victory over the Rangers.

The backstop, filling the DH role Sunday, opened the scoring with a single that plated Richie Shaffer in the second and then closed things out with an insurance run in the 10th off a two-bagger that drove home Alexei Ramirez. After a mostly miserable campaign at the plate in terms of batting average, Casali closed out 2016 by hitting safely in six of his last eight games, with four multi-hit efforts, three doubles and five RBI over that span.