MLB Player News

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart started for the first time in five games Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. While manager Joe Girardi said he would rotate catchers in April, Francisco Cervelli has started eight times and Stewart four times through the team's first 12 games.

Stewart had his first multi-hit game Tuesday, going 2 for 4 with one run. Stewart is batting .286 (4 for 14) in five games. He has no extra-base hits or RBI.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes will make his second-consecutive start Thursday.

Carlos Santana is nursing a bruised thumb and is day-to-day. Gomes was slated to start Wednesday against the Yankees, but it was postponed. He'll fill in as the primary catcher until Santana returns. 

If Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton becomes available in a trade, the Mets would have interest, according to the New York Daily News. The paper reports the Mets continue to monitor Stanton's situation, and realize a deal would likely have to include prospects Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud.

Even though the Mets just acquired d'Arnaud in the offseason, one Mets' official said that wouldn't keep the team from moving the top catcher prospect.

"You can figure the catching out later," the official said. "You have John Buck now, and hey, Brian McCann is going to be a free agent."

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that he would consider keeping Hector Sanchez as Tim Lincecum's personal catcher going forward, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Sanchez started over Buster Posey against the Rockies with Lincecum on the hill. 

Bochy said it would be comfortable for both to keep in that way. Sanchez made just his second start on Tuesday as he was behind the plate in Lincecum's first start of the year. He entered Tuesday having gone 1 for 5 to this point without a run scored or RBI. 

When Carlos Santana injured his thumb on a Chris Perez pitch Monday night, there was suddenly a surge in views of Lou Marson's page. Moments after Marson replaced Santana in the game, he was also injured. And Tuesday, with Marson going on the DL, Yan Gomes was recalled by the Indians. 

Gomes has some decent power and average potential, but his value could come from just getting playing time -- with Santana experiencing residual soreness in the thumb or aggravating the injury. In an AL-only league, where the waier wire is thin, Gomes could be a decent add, but with the caveat that he's eligibile only at first base, and will need to make five appearances at catcher in most leagues to get eligibility. 

But with Marson on the DL for at least 15 days, and Santana a little banged up, Gomes could get those five appearances quicker than usual (for instance, he's starting Tuesday against the Yankees). And if that happens, it means he's playing enough to merit some CI/DH consideration in AL-only formats. 

The Indians recalled Yan Gomes from Triple-A Columbus after placing backup catcher Lou Marson on the disabled list with a neck strain. Gomes was immediately inserted into the starting lineup Tuesday against the Yankees.

Gomes hit .286 (4 for 14) with two doubles and two RBI in four games for Columbus.

I know it's very early in the season and could be a little early to plant this seed, but it's probably an interesting enough topic: If John Buck is still one of the Mets' top hitters by the end of May, does his presence keep New York from promoting uber prospect Travis d'Arnaud?

Now, history tells us it's unlikely Buck keeps up his current offensive pace because he's never been this good of a hitter for an entire season. While Buck has good pop for a catcher, he's also been very streaky. But let's say Buck defies the odds and is somehow on a good run a few months into the season and the Mets are still winning. What will or should the Mets do?

I only bring this up because d'Arnaud is one of the most owned minor leaguers (43 percent) and at the outset of the season everyone knew Buck was just keeping the catcher spot warm until d'Arnaud was ready. But it wouldn't surprise me if d'Arnaud's arrival is delayed if down the road the Mets are still winning and Buck is a large part of their success. You also have to consider his defensive presence. If the Mets' pitching staff is thriving because of Buck's abilities behind the plate, then it could be another reason Buck blocks d'Arnaud's path to the minors.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez has struggled early in the season for Kansas City. He began breaking out of his slump Monday in the team's home-opening win over the Twins. 

Perez singled twice in the game as he finished 2 for 4 in the 3-1 win. That raised his batting average to .200 on the year and snapped an 0-for-8 stretch over his previous two games. Perez has at least one base hit in five of his seven games played this year, but has yet to drive in a run. 

Brewers utility man Martin Maldonado earned the start at first base and enjoyed a big day at the plate during Monday's series opener against the Cubs.

Maldonado launched a bases-clearing double in the first inning and singled in the fifth and seventh. He finished 3 for 5 with three RBI in a 7-4 victory. The 25-year-old is hitting .286/.333/.429 with a home run and four RBI though his first 14 at-bats.

With the Brewers being decimated by injuries, the latest player taking a stab at first base is backup catcher Martin Maldonado, who played four games at the position last year. Maldonado made a nice scoop on a groundout throw late in Monday's game before a ninth-inning error, and may have bought himself a little more playing time with an overall solid defensive effort. 

It doesn't hurt that Maldonado also hit a serviceable .266 with eight home runs in 233 at-bats last year, pressed into service when Jonathan Lucroy went down with a broken hand. With Jean Segura out indefinitely, the Brewers have to use Alex Gonzalez and Yuniesky Betancourt at short and third, leaving first base open for the taking. 

Maldonado is a catcher who could be getting regular at-bats at first base, at least for as long as Segura is out. And if he continues to hit, he may work his way into at-bats even after Segura comes back. This is deep NL-only territory, but Maldonado represents one of those catcher-as-a-first-baseman moves that could pay off in daily leagues and the short-term.