MLB Player News

Unless the Astros make a move for outside catching help, Pena is likely to open 2016 as the No. 2 catcher behind Jason Castro, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena lacks experience above Double-A and is hitting just .192 over 28 Grapefruit League plate appearances. If he does open 2016 with the Astros, his stay in Houston may be short-lived, as it's widely assumed the team will make a move for outside catching help with Max Stassi (wrist) on the shelf until May at the earliest.

Gomes played in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday after being sidelined last week by an illness.

He homered in Saturday's game against the Reds, and should be ready to go as Cleveland's Opening Day catcher.

Leon was assigned to minor league camp Monday.

The moves comes as no surprise, as Leon was expected to start the year at the Triple-A level all along. He'll battle with Dan Butler, who was also reassigned Monday, for a potential call-up later in the year in the event of an injury or performance drop-off.

Vazquez (elbow) will begin the season on the disabled list.

Vazquez did not experience any issues related to his 2015 Tommy John surgery this spring, but he is apparently still completing his recovery, and will be eased into regular season action. He will be an option for the big club once the Red Sox determine he is back at 100 percent.

Casali has hit .316 and tallied four RBI over 19 exhibtion at-bats during 2016 spring training.

The third-year pro displayed some considerable pop at the plate last season, blasting 10 homers in just 101 at-bats. Casali has had a productive enough spring, but fellow backstop Rene Rivera has also been solid (.321 average over 28 at-bats). Veteran offseason acquisition Hank Conger has considerably struggled at the plate (.154 average) to date, and manager Kevin Cash has mused about the possibility of keeping three catchers on the major league roster in the season's early going, brightening Casali's prospects for the time being.

Vazquez won't be on the Red Sox's 25-man roster to begin the season, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Vazquez hasn't experienced any setbacks since returning from Tommy John surgery during the spring, but the team's main priority remains building up the young catcher's innings behind the plate. It hasn't been determined yet whether he'll begin the season at Triple-A Pawtucket or stick around in Fort Myers, Fla. for extended spring training, but once the Red Sox feel confident that he's fully healthy, Vazquez could displace Ryan Hanigan as the backup catcher behind Blake Swihart.

Moore was reassigned to minor league camp Saturday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The Indians are set at catcher at the big league level with Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez, so Moore will head down to the minors and provide organizational depth at the position. He hit .429 with two doubles in 14 at-bats this spring.

Perez has logged nine hits (including a home run) in 32 at-bats this spring.

Perez officially entered camp in a three-way battle with Jett Bandy and Geovany Soto for the starting catcher's spot, but was likely considered the frontrunner after taking playing time from Chris Iannetta in his final season with the club. Perez was able to close 2015 with a flourish, notching a .933 OPS in September, but finished the year with just a .299 OBP and .096 ISO.

Sanchez has been optioned to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, the club announced.

Sanchez was expected to make the team as Brian McCann's backup, but he has struggled mightily this spring, going just 1-for-21 at the plate. Austin Romine now has the inside track for New York's backup catcher spot.

Acosta went 2-for-2 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 5-2 spring victory over the Twins.

With many of the Rays regulars unavailable due to a delayed return from Havana, the backup catcher received some rare playing time and fully capitalized. His seventh-inning, two-run double tied the game, and Acosta subsequently scored the lead run on a two-out throwing error by Twins shortstop Eduardo Nunez. He added a ninth-inning RBI on his second two-bagger of the afternoon. Acosta has only six exhibition at-bats to date, and is essentially serving as a spring-training body after signing a minor-league contract on Feb. 18 and receiving an invite to camp.