MLB Player News

The Cubs signed Sanchez to a minor-league deal Friday, per the MLB transaction report.

Sanchez joined the Pirates on a one-year contract in December, but he was DFA'd by the team March 28 after going 2-for-16 in spring training. The veteran catcher will now provide organizational depth behind the plate as a member of the Cubs.

O'Hoppe went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in Friday's loss to Boston.

O'Hoppe's first home run of the year was a game-tying grand slam to dead center in the sixth inning. The skilled catcher is slashing .450/.542/.750 with three extra-base knocks and six RBI through 24 plate appearances. O'Hoppe has multiple hits in three of his seven appearances this season.

Perez went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk in Friday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.

Perez turned in his third three-hit game of the season, but it was his walk that set up the go-ahead run -- he was replaced by pinch runner Dairon Blanco, who stole second and scored on an MJ Melendez single in the eighth inning. Perez is batting .387 with two home runs, nine RBI, one double and four runs scored over 33 plate appearances for a strong start to 2024.

Murphy (oblique) has yet to resume swinging a bat, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Murphy is a week removed from suffering a Grade 1 left oblique strain and is not feeling well enough yet to be cleared to swing. He is eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list April 9, but it would appear highly unlikely that he will be ready by then. Travis d'Arnaud is filling in at catcher for Atlanta while Murphy is on the shelf.

Stephenson is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.

It looks to be a routine day off for the Reds' starting catcher. Luke Maile will be behind the plate Friday while Stephenson gets some rest.

Jansen (wrist) caught two live batting practice sessions and took batting practice of his own on the field Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

He's slated to face a high-velocity pitching machine next. The Blue Jays are hoping Jansen will be ready to begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Dunedin on Sunday, when he would catch fellow rehabber Alek Manoah (shoulder). Jansen has been out with a small fracture in his right wrist.

Wells is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Blue Jays.

It's southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on the bump for Toronto, so the left-handed hitting Wells will yield to Jose Trevino at catcher. Wells and Trevino have split catching duties down the middle for the Yankees thus far, drawing four starts apiece.

Herrera went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI single and additional run scored in Thursday's 8-5 win over the Marlins.

Herrera opened the scoring in the second inning with his homer, and his other hit sparked the Cardinals' five-run rally in the seventh inning. The catcher is filling in while Willson Contreras (hand) is unavailable. This was Herrera's second multi-hit effort in a row, and he's now 4-for-12 with four RBI and two runs scored over four contests this season. He's also yet to draw a walk while striking out five times, so there's still room for improvement with plate discipline.

Contreras did not suffer a fracture in his hand and is hoping to be available to play Saturday versus the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Contreras was held out of the lineup Thursday after being hit in the hand with a pitch the day prior. It's unclear whether he'll be able to start behind the plate Saturday against Miami, but X-rays came back clean and it doesn't appear that he'll be in for a long-term absence.

Alvarez isn't in the Mets' lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

After going 2-for-5 with two RBI in a losing effort during Game 1, Alvarez will get a breather while Omar Narvaez starts behind the dish and bats seventh in the nightcap.