MLB Player News
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Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Cleared for Opening Day
Rogers cleared concussion protocol Monday and will be available for Opening Day, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Rogers suffered a concussion at some point down the stretch of spring training, but it won't impact his availability for the start of the 2026 season. "He's already caught a couple of bullpens today and hit in the cage," said manager A.J. Hinch on Monday. "I'm going to get him a couple of at-bats tonight. Tomorrow, he'll catch part of the game." The 30-year-old is in line to open his sixth major-league season as the backup catcher behind Dillon Dingler.
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Maverick Handley C | BAL
Orioles' Maverick Handley: Cut from big-league camp
The Orioles reassigned Handley to minor-league camp Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Handley logged 47 plate appearances in the majors in 2025 while the Orioles contended with multiple injuries at catcher, but the 28-year-old was never viewed as anything more than a stopgap option and was dropped from the 40-man roster over the winter. He'll remain part of the Orioles organization for the 2026 campaign, but he's likely to spend the entire season at Triple-A Norfolk unless Baltimore is down two of Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo and Sam Huff at any point.
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Matt Thaiss C | BOS
Red Sox's Matt Thaiss: Misses out on Opening Day roster
The Red Sox reassigned Thaiss to minor-league camp Monday.
Thaiss attending spring training as a non-roster invitee but didn't make much of a push for a backup catcher spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster after posting a .560 OPS over 27 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League. With Boston also optioning Mickey Gasper to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, the Red Sox will head into Opening Day with Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong as their two catchers. Thaiss' minor-league deal contains an upward mobility clause that would allow him to pursue opportunities elsewhere, but he intends to remain in the organization and report to Worcester to begin the season, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
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Korey Lee C | CHW
White Sox's Korey Lee: Set to miss cut
Lee will not be a part of the Opening Day roster with the White Sox, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Lee is set to be the odd man out after Chicago signed Reese McGuire to a one-year deal Sunday. Lee is getting moved/released by the team in the near future according to manager Will Venable, per Jon Greenberg of The Athletic. Lee remains with the organization for the time being, and he's batting ninth in a spring game against the Mariners on Sunday night. To this point in spring training, he has produced a .297 average with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored and four stolen bases over 37 at-bats in 14 contests.
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Jhonny Pereda C | SEA
Mariners' Jhonny Pereda: Headed to Tacoma
Pereda was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.
Pereda was traded from the Twins to Seattle in January, and he was able to participate in spring training with the big-league club. The catcher batted .200 with a run scored and a stolen base over 25 at-bats in 15 contests. He'll now head to Tacoma ahead of the 2026 campaign.
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Reese McGuire C | CHW
White Sox's Reese McGuire: Lands with White Sox
McGuire agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract Sunday.
The 31-year-old exercised his release clause Saturday after missing out on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, and it didn't take him long to land with a new club. McGuire should serve as a veteran backup catcher to Edgar Quero with Kyle Teel (hamstring) beginning the year on the injured list.
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J.C. Escarra C | NYY
Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Slated for No. 2 catcher role
Escarra is expected to serve as New York's backup catcher behind Austin Wells this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Escarra got his first taste of big-league action last season and posted a .202/.296/.33 slash line with two homers, 11 RBI, one stolen base and an 11:14 BB:K over 98 plate appearances. Both he and Wells bat left-handed, so Escarra's opportunities to play will likely come exclusively when Wells needs a rest day. Ben Rice, who's slated to be the team's primary first baseman, also has experience behind the plate and saw action at that position in 36 contests last year, though it's unclear how often (if at all) the Yankees will use him as a catcher this year.
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Kyle Teel C | CHW
White Sox's Kyle Teel: Making progress with hamstring
Teel (hamstring) was able to perform light sprints and hitting Friday and has "no pain or stretch" while catching, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Teel suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain in mid-March while playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic. He was given an initial 4-to-6 week timeline for recovery, which would put him out until at least mid-April. Teel told Merkin that he doesn't expect to be ready for Chicago's home opener (Thursday, April 2 against Toronto) but did say he could return shortly thereafter. The backstop also suggested that he'll be playing it safe with the injury, stating, "My goal is to come back as soon as possible. There's no denying that. It's just being smart about it. And making good choices, ramping up appropriately."
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Travis d'Arnaud C | LAA
Angels' Travis d'Arnaud: In line for No. 2 catcher role
D'Arnaud is expected to serve as the Angels' No. 2 catcher behind Logan O'Hoppe this season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
D'Arnaud served in the same role during his first season with the Angels last year and finished the campaign with a .598 OPS along with six homers and 21 RBI across 231 plate appearances. He struggled to make contact, posting a career-worst 32.0 percent strikeout rate. O'Hoppe is viewed by the Angels as a potential long-term stalwart behind the plate, so d'Arnaud isn't a threat to usurp the younger catcher's playing time.
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Dillon Dingler C | DET
Tigers' Dillon Dingler: Hits first spring home run
Dingler went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After his spring training debut was delayed due to arthroscopic right elbow surgery in the offseason, Dingler got off to a slow start at the plate. However, the catcher has been a bit better lately, going 4-for-12 with the homer over his last four Grapefruit League contests. Dingler appears to be rounding into form for the start of the regular season, and he'll serve as Detroit's top backstop once again in 2026.