MLB Player News

Casali is expected to platoon with Luke Maile at catcher until the newly acquired Wilson Ramos (knee) is healthy.

Despite slashing .186/.273/.336 over 256 plate appearances last season at the big league level, Casali displayed a knack for making it count when he did make contact, rapping out 18 extra-base hits (10 homers) and tallying 25 RBI. His bloated 32 percent strikeout rate certainly needs improvement, but Casali's solid work behind the plate and occasional pop is likely to keep him involved even after Ramos is healthy enough to play, which is likely to be in late May or early June. In the interim, he figures to platoon with Luke Maile to begin the 2017 campaign.

Sanchez signed a minor league deal with the Angels on Friday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Sanchez split the 2016 season in the Blue Jays and Giants' organizations, struggling to stay above the Mendoza Line in Triple-A at both stops. He's had a few brief stints in the majors, but at this point the 28-year-old figures to serve primarily as organizational depth behind the plate and will likely open the season back at Triple-A.

Ohlman signed a minor league contract with Toronto on Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.

The 25-year-old catcher also received an invite to join the Jays for spring training. Ohlman hit .287 with seven homers and 44 RBI between two of St. Louis' minor league affiliates in 2016.

Pena signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on Monday, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.

He was drafted in 2010 by the Astros and reached Triple-A last season for the first time in his career. Omar Narvaez, Kevan Smith and Alfredo Gonzalez are all likely ahead of Pena on the organizational depth chart, but it is a very weak position for the White Sox, so playing time could become available. That said, he has never posted a wRC+ above 90 in seven minor league seasons, so the offensive upside is very limited.

Mejia was added to the Indians' 40-man roster Friday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Indians weren't going to let Mejia get away in the Rule 5 draft -- he's one of the top catching prospects in the game (one of the top hitting catchers in the minor leagues, anyway). He posted a combined .342/.382/.514 line between Low-A and High-A in 2016, at one point hitting safely in 50 straight games. The 21-year-old figures to advance to Double-A next season.

Gallagher was added to the Royals' 40-man roster Friday.

The Royals opted to add Gallagher rather than risk losing him in the Rule 5 draft. He advanced to the Double-A level in 2016, batting .259/.348/.359 with four homers and 24 RBI in 91 games. It's hard to imagine Gallagher will get a chance in 2017 with three other catchers on the 40-man roster.

Garver was added to the Twins' 40-man roster on Friday, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

The Twins protected him from the Rule 5 draft, as expected. Given the state of catching in the minors and the lack of a reliable one on the Twins' 25-man roster, Garver has understandably gained some steam as a sleeper at the position. He hit 11 home runs with a 118 wRC+ in 95 games at Double-A and dominated in a brief run at Triple-A, thanks largely to a .436 BABIP. Look for him to head back to Triple-A at the start of 2017, with a potential promotion to the big leagues at some point during the summer.

Moore was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on Monday.

Moore went hitless in his brief stint with Cleveland in September, and given his inauspicious showing in the minors, it was only a matter of time before the journeyman catcher was cast off the 40-man roster. The 32-year-old will likely go on to act as organizational depth next season.

Garver is hitting .262 with four home runs in 11 games in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .329 with a .815 OPS in 22 games after he was promoted to Triple-A Rochester.

Garver hit just .257 with a .753 OPS at Double-A in 95 games, so he's had a late surge in the plate in a small sample size. His fall performance is better than his minor league career that has featured power but just a .764 OPS. At age 25, he's not a top prospect but could find a role in the majors in 2017 with the Twins very thin at catcher.

Manager John Farrell said Vazquez could start Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Indians, with Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez was included on the postseason roster chiefly for his defense and ability to throw out base runners. The erratic but talented Rodriguez posted a 4.50 ERA in 22 innings this year with Vazquez behind the plate, but he fanned 25 in that sample, so it could wind up as a positive pairing.