MLB Player News

Atlanta signed Leon to a major-league contract Tuesday.

The veteran backstop signed with Atlanta as a non-roster invitee in February but failed to make the Opening Day roster and was released in April to pursue an opportunity in the Mexican League. Leon is back on a big-league deal this time since Sean Murphy (finger) was placed on the injured list. Leon should serve as the backup to Drake Baldwin while Murphy is sidelined.

Atlanta placed Murphy on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 11, due to a fractured left middle finger.

The 31-year-old sustained the injury on a catcher's interference when behind the plate during Sunday's game against the Dodgers and will be forced to miss some time. After spending the first month-plus of the season rehabbing from September hip surgery, Murphy is now back on the shelf after going 1-for-14 in four games for Atlanta. Drake Baldwin will operate as the club's clear No. 1 catcher moving forward, and veteran Sandy Leon was signed to serve as the backup while Murphy is out.

Fry started at catcher and went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 7-2 win over the Angels.

Fry made his fifth start of the season at catcher. The Guardians keep him around as a third catcher, but he's mostly been deployed in right field (nine starts) or designated hitter (six). Cleveland's recent acquisition of Patrick Bailey from San Francisco and optioning of Bo Naylor to Triple-A Columbus does nothing to change Fry's role.

Manager Craig Albernaz stated after Monday's win over the Yankees that Basallo (knee) is fine, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Basallo was a late scratch from Monday's lineup due to left knee discomfort. However, it seems he's managed to avoid a significant injury. Assuming all goes according to plan, Basallo should be back in the starting lineup within the next day or so.

The Giants optioned Porter to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Porter served as a third catcher for a couple days and did not receive a plate appearance for the Giants.

Basallo was scratched from Monday's lineup against the Yankees due to left knee discomfort, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.

Basallo picked up the injury from a collision at home plate during the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Athletics, per Jake Rill of MLB.com. The Orioles should have an update on the 21-year-old's status once he undergoes more tests on his left knee. Coby Mayo will serve as Baltimore's designated hitter and bat sixth in Monday's series opener.

Jansen is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Kyle Higashioka will start behind the plate and bat ninth as the Rangers open up a series versus Arizona. Jansen has netted only one hit over his last five contests.

Fortes is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.

The Rays will give Fortes a breather after he started behind the plate in each of their last four games. Hunter Feduccia will enter the lineup as Fortes' replacement, catching and batting eighth in the series opener.

Bailey is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.

David Fry will get the nod at catcher over Bailey, who went 0-for-3 at the dish in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Twins in his Guardians debut. Bailey is expected to see the lion's share of the playing time behind the dish with his new club, but the 26-year-old backstop likely won't carry much fantasy appeal outside of two-catcher mixed leagues or AL-only leagues. He's batting just .141/.207/.176 on the season, with his .383 OPS placing him last among all catchers who have logged at least 70 plate appearances.

Villarroel (knee) is slashing .067/.176/.067 with a 1:4 BB:K across 17 plate appearances in four outings with High-A Eugene this season.

Villarroel briefly played in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before joining Eugene, which placed him on the 7-day injured list April 3 following offseason meniscus surgery. The 21-year-old catcher has struggled since moving to High-A, going hitless in his first three appearances before logging a single in Sunday's 13-8 win over Vancouver.