The Rangers claimed MacIver off waivers from the Athletics on Wednesday.

MacIver got his feet wet at the big-league level in 2025, slashing .186/.252/.324 over 32 games for the Athletics. The Rangers have Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka slated to handle catching duties in 2026, so MacIver is merely a depth addition.

The Giants declined Murphy's (back) $4 million team option for 2026 on Monday, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Murphy received a $250,000 buyout and will take home $8.25 million over his two-year stay with the Giants, during which he appeared in just 13 games. He didn't play after early May of the 2024 season after suffering a knee sprain, then missed the entire 2025 campaign due to a mid-back disc herniation that cropped up during spring training. The Giants didn't provide a clear indication on where Murphy stood in his rehab program before the end of this past season, making it uncertain if he'll be healthy in advance of spring training. If the 34-year-old backstop elects to continue his playing career in 2026, he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal.

The Padres declined Diaz's (oblique) $7 million club option for 2026 on Tuesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Diaz posted a .607 OPS across 283 regular-season plate appearances in 2025 -- his worst mark since 2019. Rather than pay him $7 million to likely act as a backup in 2026, the Friars will instead give the 34-year-old a $2 million buyout and send him into free agency. His defense should still be enough for him to draw interest from other clubs, but he doesn't offer much fantasy upside at this stage in his career.

Perez signed a two-year, $25 million contract extension with the Royals on Tuesday.

Perez had a $13.5 million team option for 2026, but his new deal will slightly decrease his AAV while ensuring the veteran backstop remains in Kansas City through 2027. Perez's .236 batting average from 2025 was the second-lowest mark of his 15-year MLB career, but he also finished the season with 30 homers for the first time since 2021 and 100 RBI for the third time in five years.

Contreras underwent a minor procedure on his fractured left middle finger Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

General manager Matt Arnold said Contreras is roughly 5-to-6 weeks away from resuming baseball activity, so his surgery isn't expected to affect Contreras' availability for the start of the 2026 season. The 27-year-old backstop also had his $12 million club option declined Tuesday after posting a .754 OPS in the regular season -- his worst as a Brewer. However, he will remain under team control as an arbitration-eligible player.

The Brewers declined Contreras' $12 million option for 2026.

Contreras will receive a $100,000 buyout instead, and he remains under team control for 2026 and 2027 as an arbitration-eligible player. The catcher slashed .260/.355/.399 with 17 home runs over 150 regular-season games for the Brewers in 2025. Contreras was scheduled to visit a hand specialist last week to determine whether he needs surgery to repair a fractured left middle finger, but there's no word on whether an operation is required. Even if he does have surgery, his availability for spring training is not expected to be in peril.

Crooks could split time at catcher for the Cardinals next season with Ivan Herrera, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Herrera is slated to return to catcher in 2026 after serving as the team's primary designated hitter for the final few months of 2025. He is not expected to be used behind the plate full-time, though, leaving some reps at catcher open. Per Woo, that playing time is likelier to go to Crooks than Pedro Pages, who is a trade candidate. Crooks struggled in a cup of coffee with the Cardinals in 2025, going 6-for-45 with a 0:17 BB:K. However, the 24-year-old has been productive in the minors, having slashed .274/.337/.441 with 14 home runs last season at Triple-A Memphis.

Pages could be the odd man out at catcher for the Cardinals next season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Pages has led the team in starts behind the plate each of the last two seasons. However, the Cardinals plan to use a combination of Ivan Herrera and Jimmy Crooks at catcher next season, leaving Pages without a clear path to playing time. The 27-year-old has minor-league options remaining, but prospect Leonardo Bernal is expected to serve as the primary catcher at Triple-A Memphis in 2026. As a result, Pages could be a trade candidate this offseason.

The Brewers declined Jansen's $12 million mutual option for 2026 on Monday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

He'll be given a $500,000 buyout instead. Jansen slashed .215/.321/.399 with 14 home runs over 98 regular-season contests between the Rays and Brewers in 2025 and the 30-year-old catcher will now enter the free-agent market.

Garver will become a free agent after the Mariners declined the $12 million mutual option in his contract Sunday.

Garver will be paid a $1 million buyout and enter the free-agent market. The 34-year-old slashed only .187/.290/.341 across 201 regular-season games during his two seasons in Seattle. Garver is a career .255/.358/.474 hitter against left-handed pitching, so he should be able to land a job as a short-side platoon bat this winter.