MLB Player News

Yankees manager Joe Girardi hasn't changed his mind about rotating catchers Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart the first month of the season. Cervelli, however, did start consecutive games Saturday and Sunday before Stewart returned to the starting lineup Monday.

"Just keeping them both involved," Girardi said. "I think that's important. As I said, the first month I’ll play it out. Stewart’s at-bats have been pretty good too. Stewie’s hit the ball pretty hard too. This first time through, I’m kind of giving them the same guys twice so there’s some consistency and you can build off that."

Through three games in the minors, Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is off to a good start.

D'Arnaud has already hit two doubles, and walked six times in those games. The 24-year-old was thought to be close to major-league ready this spring, but the team sent him to the minors to begin the season. He isn't expected to stay in Triple-A for long. The team will likely keep d'Arnaud in the minors until he accrues enough service time to push back his free agency. That should take about a month.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has the pedigree as one of the top prospects in the minors over the last few years, but he has been unable to translate that to the major-league level so far. He was on the bench for the fourth game in a row Friday, as he continues to struggle to find playing time.

Reds manager Dusty Baker told MLB.com that Mesoraco will start Saturday, but the team does not have a set plan for getting him consistent playing time right now. Baker did say he will likely begin to split time a bit more evenly between he and Ryan Hanigan as the season progresses.

"We needed Hanigan, who throws out [48.5] percent of baserunners to negate the speed of the Angels," Baker said. "As we get deeper along, I might feel the need to mix and match. [Hanigan] shouldn't be tired early. When the weather gets hot and as he gets tired, I might mix and match."

Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado made his first start of the season Wednesday night against the Rockies with Wily Peralta on the mound.

Manager Ron Roenicke told MLB.com that he does not know how much he will play the 26-year-old going forward behind starter Jonathan Lucroy.

"I do [have a ratio] in mind, but it changes all the time, and their production helps that decision," manager Ron Roenicke said. "If Maldy is swinging the bat like he was last year, he's going to play more than once every week or once every five days. He does such a good job, defensively, that if he's swinging the bat, he's going to be in there more."

Maldonado, who hit eight homers with 30 RBI in 233 at-bats last season, has been made no promises about playing time.

"That's fine with me," he said. "Like I always say, I come here every day expecting to play, and when it doesn't happen, you change."

Royals catcher Salvador Perez has started off his season with a modest two-game hitting streak as he singled Wednesday in Chicago. 

The Kansas City backstop has gone 1 for 4 in each game and is batting .250 to this point with two singles. The Royals have scored just two runs in two games against the White Sox. 

The 22-year-old Perez hit .379 this spring with two homers and 12 RBI over 58 at-bats. He homered 11 times over 289 at-bats last year through 76 games. 

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart will get his first start behind the plate Wednesday against the Red Sox and Clay Buchholz, the club announced.

Manager Joe Girardi said he expects to use an "even split" with Stewart and opening day catcher Francisco Cervelli. Expect the Yankees to stick with the even split unless one gains the hot hand as May approaches.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi chose to start Francisco Cervelli behind the plate on opening day against the Red Sox. Giradi added, however, he expects an "even split" with Chris Stewart at catcher and will use the first month of the season to evaluate the position. 

Stewart appeared in 17 games at catcher this spring, which was second most on the team at the position behind Bobby Wilson's 19 appearances. Stewart hit .239 (11 for 46) with one homer, two doubles and six RBI.

The Diamondbacks reassigned catcher Tuffy Gosewisch to minor-league camp Friday. He hit .308/.438/.308 in 16 plate appearances this spring.

Gosewisch hit .216/.278/.345 with the Triple-A affiliates of the Phillies and Blue Jays in 2012.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the Contra Costa Times that catcher Hector Sanchez caught six innings in a minor league game Friday and appears ready for opening day.

Sanchez was shut down earlier in the spring due to a sore shoulder, but he hit a home run Friday and is not expected to have any trouble playing when the regular season begins.

Sanchez was the backup catcher for the Giants last season and will likely fill the same role this season. He batted .280 in 218 at bats, with three home runs and 34 RBI. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was part of an offensive explosion in his teams' 9-9 tie Wednesday night, hitting his first home run of the season -- one of four home runs for the Royals in the game. Perez also added a single in his five at-bats to raise his spring line to .377/.375/.528. Perez checks in with the rarely-seen phenomenon of an OBP lower than his batting average by virtue of having just one walk this spring while adding two sacrifice flies.