MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Jansen (rib) will play 5-to-6 innings in a simulated game Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

If he gets through the workout without any lingering issues with his pulled rib muscle, Jansen will be active for the Rays' opener versus Colorado on Friday. Kenny Piper has joined the club as a contingency and would be added to the roster in the event Jansen isn't ready.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Alvarez had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand Monday and will begin strengthening exercises, SNY.tv reports.

After Alvarez has regained the necessary strength in his hand, he will progress to baseball activities. Alvarez is a little over two weeks into a projected 6-to-8 week timetable for his return, so he could make it back before the end of April if everything goes well. In the meantime, Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger will handle the catching duties for the Mets.

The Mets informed Senger on Wednesday that he will be included on the Opening Day roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

He will open the season as the Mets' backup catcher behind Luis Torrens while Francisco Alvarez (hand) is on the shelf. Senger will be making his major-league debut when/if he gets into a game.

The Reds placed Stephenson (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Stephenson will be eligible for activation April 3, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to make his season debut by then while he continues to recover from a low-grade left oblique strain. He didn't appear in any Cactus League or exhibition games after suffering the injury in mid-March, so Stephenson will likely need at least a brief minor-league rehab assignment to pick up some at-bats before the Reds are comfortable bringing him back. In the meantime, Cincinnati will lean on Jose Trevino as its primary backstop, while Austin Wynns serves as the No. 2 option behind the dish.

The Reds selected Wynns' contract from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Wynns will open the season as the Reds' No. 2 catcher, with Jose Trevino serving as the primary starter behind the plate while Tyler Stephenson (oblique) is on the injured list. Once Stephenson is ready to be activated from the IL, Wynns will likely be cast off the 40-man roster.

Atlanta placed Murphy (ribs) on the 10-day injured list Monday.

Murphy was ruled out 4-to-6 weeks after suffering a fractured rib on his left side in early March, so the move to the IL is procedural. With the 30-year-old sidelined for the start of the season, prospect Drake Baldwin recently had his contract selected and is expected to begin the campaign as Atlanta's primary catcher.

Manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Rice will be included on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Giancarlo Stanton's elbow issues created an opening at designated hitter, and Rice took advantage of the opportunity during spring training with five homers and an .848 OPS in 69 plate appearances. The 26-year-old is likely to see most of his action at designated hitter but could also get looks at first base and catcher.

The Mariners signed Raleigh to a six-year, $105 million contract extension Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal begins this season and buys out Raleigh's final years of arbitration eligibility as well as his first three years of free agency. Raleigh has become baseball's preeminent power bat at catcher, easily leading the position with 76 home runs over the past three seasons. The 28-year-old also captured his first Gold Glove in 2024.

The Royals reassigned O'Keefe to minor-league camp Tuesday.

O'Keefe was attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee but didn't make much of a push for a spot on the Opening Day roster with Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin both emerging from spring training fully healthy. He'll presumably report to Triple-A Omaha and serve as organizational catching depth for the second season in a row.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on the Talkin' Yanks podcast by Jomboy Media on Tuesday that Wells will be the team's leadoff hitter Opening Day versus Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta.

The revelation comes as no surprise, as Wells has batted at the top of the order consistently over the last few weeks in Grapefruit League play. Wells is likely to hit lower in the order or get days off against lefties, although No. 2 catcher J.C. Escarra and No. 3 catcher Ben Rice also bat left-handed.