MLB Player News

Hoping to clear the air following his suspension for a positive drug test, San Diego catcher Yasmani Grandal addressed his teammates Saturday prior to the team's first full-squad workout of the spring. Grandal was banned last November for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He is eligible to return May 28 at Seattle. "I have taken full responsibility for my actions and apologized to my teammates," he said in a statement. "I plan to put that mistake behind me, serve my suspension and continue working hard to be the best player and teammate I can be."

MLB.com reports Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco spent the offseason studying tape of his rookie season in attempt to improve on a disappointing campaign. "I watched beginning of the year, middle of the year and end of the year -- a good amount of each to see where I needed to improve," Mesoraco said. "Offensively, (video scouting manager Rob Coughlin) sent me certain swings of mine and I requested some other hitters throughout the league to see what makes them successful. I will try to morph that into my game a little bit." Mesoraco struggled adjusting to playing sparingly last season and it's a similar situation he could face in 2013 with Ryan Hanigan still in the mix. "Sometimes you've got to go backwards," manager Dusty Baker said of Mesoraco's 2012 season. "We're not really sure what will happen this year, either. He's a heck of a talent. But he's very young. Most guys don't come out of high school and catch. Buster Posey came out of college. That's four years where he had more experience."

Chris Stewart heads into spring training expected to split time behind the plate with Francisco Cervelli for the Yankees in 2013. Stewart, a career .217 hitter, told The Star-Ledger Sunday that he looks forward to competing for more playing time, knowing his defensive prowess gives him an advantage. “I’m not going to say it doesn’t really matter what I do at the plate,” Stewart said. “I’m trying to be the best hitter I can be. But if I’m doing the job behind the plate, then I know my goal behind the plate is being taken care of. Everything else is extra.”

MLB.com reports Braves catcher prospect Christian Bethancourt, who was limited to half a season at Double-A Mississippi in 2012 because of a fractured left hand, could be in line to make the major-league roster in 2014. "I think if he would have been able to complete the full season there, I think it would've made a world of difference for him," Braves assistant general manager and director of player development Bruce Manno said of Bethancourt. "He's fine [health-wise], he went and played winter ball in the Dominican and was able to kind of make up some at-bats, so that helped quite a bit with the time he missed. He's a player who we really, we really like his defensive ability, and offensively we think he's going to continue to improve. We have to see where he is in his development in the spring before we decide what's going to happen to him [level-wise], because we just don't know without the full sample of a season last year."

Toronto avoided arbitration with catcher Josh Thole on Friday, signing the backstop to a two-year contract with an option for a third year.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told WFAN on Thursday that for catcher Travis d'Arnaud to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, he would have to win the catcher's job. “I just don’t want to rule anything out,” Alderson said, in a transcript provided by the Daily News. “But at the same time, I don’t want to create false expectations for our fans or put pressure on Travis."

MLB.com reports Royals catcher Salvador Perez was named rookie of the year in the Venezuelan Winter League. Perez hit .371 with eight homers, 10 doubles and 39 RBI in 32 games for Tiburones. He also had 23 runs, .412 on-base percentage, .629 slugging percentage and 1.041 OPS.

Starting pitcher R.A. Dickey isn't the only one headed to Toronto in a deal that sent Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard and Wulimer Becerra to the Mets Monday. He'll be joined by catcher Josh Thole, who caught Dickey for the majority of his Cy Young season. The Blue Jays also acquired Mike Nickeas in the deal. Thole hit .234 with one home run in 321 at-bats for the Mets last season.

Given their collection of young catchers, the Blue Jays were hesitant to promote top prospect Travis d'Arnaud to the majors for the start of 2013. Now, it's not their decision to make. The Blue Jays have traded d'Arnaud, along with Noah Syndergaard, John Buck and Wulimer Becerra to the Mets for R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas. The deal had been in the works all weekend but was contingent on the Blue Jays agreeing to an extension with Dickey, which happened Monday.

Washington recalled pitcher John Lannan, catcher Sandy Leon and outfielder Eury Perez from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday with rosters expanding. The team also reinstated infielder Mark DeRosa from the disabled list. Washington also activated Jhonatan Solano from the disabled list and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg.