MLB Player News

The Reds declined Casali's $2.5 million option for 2024 on Saturday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The 34-year-old backstop will receive a $750,000 buyout and enter the free agent market. Casali slashed just .175/.290/.200 with six RBI across 96 plate appearances in 2023 and likely will be limited to a depth role with his new organization.

Astros general manager Dana Brown confirmed in an interview with Randy McIlvoy of KPRC-TV on Thursday that Diaz "will be the main guy" next season at catcher.

Martin Maldonado has reached free agency, and while it's possible he could be re-signed as a backup, Diaz is in line to take over the lion's share of the catching duties for Houston next season. The 25-year-old made 85 starts -- 42 at catcher -- for the Astros in 2023, popping 23 home runs over just 377 plate appearances while posting an .846 OPS.

Narvaez exercised his $7 million player option for 2024 on Thursday.

As expected, the 31-year-old will return next season as the backup to young Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez. Narvaez slashed just .211/.283/.297 over 49 games (146 plate appearances) in 2023, but he is a good defender behind the plate and had the player option in hand.

Cropley cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

He's no longer on the Royals' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. Cropley, 27, got into two games for Kansas City this season, picking up one hit in six at-bats.

Perez elected free agency Tuesday.

Perez was placed on outright waivers by the Mets on Friday and went unclaimed. The 31-year-old catcher owns a career .179/.248/.306 big-league batting line and will likely have to settle for a minor-league contract this winter.

Perez was placed on outright assignment waivers Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

As part of a mass-clearing of the Mets' 40-man roster, Perez will join five other players on the waiver wire. Perez spent most of 2023 in Triple-A, slashing .204/.309/.352 across 270 plate appearances.

Heim is starting at catcher and batting ninth Friday in Game 5 of the ALCS versus the Astros.

He's part of the shakeup in the bottom half of the Rangers' batting order, as he previously has hit sixth eight times and fifth once in Texas' first nine games this postseason. Heim collected exactly one hit in each of those first seven contests but is hitless his last two times out.

Moreno is batting third in Game 3 of the NLCS on Thursday against the Phillies.

Moreno has posted an .889 OPS through 25 plate appearances this postseason while holding down the No. 5 spot in the Diamondbacks' lineup. Facing an 0-2 series deficit, Arizona will boost the 23-year-old catcher a bit higher for Game 3 versus the Phillies and left-hander Ranger Suarez. Tommy Pham is hitting fifth Thursday.

The Reds re-signed Maile to a one-year contract Thursday with a club option for 2025.

Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that the guaranteed value of the deal is $3.5 million. Maile owns an underwhelming .212/.275/.328 career batting line in 380 major-league games, but the 32-year-old catcher has a solid defensive reputation and will return as an active backup to Tyler Stephenson, who often gets starts in the DH role.

Perez elected free agency Monday.

Perez had been removed from the Athletics' 40-man roster and has opted for free agency in lieu of an outright assignment. The 32-year-old made it back to the majors in 2023 for the first time in five years, posting a .650 OPS in 66 games for Oakland.