MLB Player News

The Tigers announced Monday catcher Bryan Holaday was optioned to Triple-A Toledo. His demotion means James McCann will start the season as the primary backup to starting catcher Alex Avila, per MLB.com.

The Red Sox will give catching prospect Blake Swihart an extended look over the final week of spring training to determine whether to give him a spot on the Opening Day roster, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports.

Christian Vazquez was projected to be the team's starting catcher coming into spring training but is dealing with an elbow injury that may require Tommy John surgery. Despite the need at the catcher position, the Red Sox have not yet called the Blue Jays to inquire about No. 2 catcher Dioner Navarro, who has asked to be traded and is carrying a $5-million salary for 2015.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez will be evaluated by Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday, per the Boston Herald's Michael Silverman which is not a good sign for his injured elbow.

The Sox said that an MRI on Vazquez's injured elbow "found something". While no decision on surgery has been made, Andrews is the pioneer of Tommy John elbow surgery, which would keep Vazquez out for close to a year. 

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez underwent an MRI on his injured elbow, and told reporters on Saturday that they "found something," but have to make a firm diagnosis. He's scheduled to undergo a second opinion in the Fort Myers area, according to WEEI.

Vazquez caught a minor-league game on Friday, but was prohibited from throwing to bases. Manager John Farrell said he's unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, per the Providence Journal. The Red Sox will likely consider Ryan Hanigan and prospect Blake Swihart as possible replacements for Vazquez.

"There's a little bit there, but I've got more in my tank," Vazquez said. "I want to be 100 percent to help the team. I need to be ready to help the team win.

"That's my goal, be ready and healthy because this is my first time getting hurt. I'm a little bit sad with myself for my first time, but I'm fine."

Though he was optioned to Triple-A last week, Red Sox manager John Farrell indicated that he would be open to going with catching prospect Blake Swihart if Christian Vazquez remains sidelined with an elbow issue, according to the Boston Herald. Farrell will likely wait a little over a week before he decides on his Opening Day catcher.

"Anybody in our uniform is always under consideration," Farrell said. "We'll see how things play out in the next eight or nine days."

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez (elbow) will undergo an MRI on his injured elbow on Friday. He downplayed the issue, telling reporters that he's "going to be fine," according to WEEI. He is scheduled to catch Joe Kelly in a minor-league intrasquad game. Vazquez will be refrained from throwing to bases.

"I think I'm going to be fine, I hope I'm going be fine for Opening Day," Vazques said, per ESPN. "That's the goal here.

"I want to be 100 percent to help the team. I need to be ready to help the team win. That's my goal: Be ready, be healthy. This is the first time in my life that I got hurt. I'm, you know, a little bit sad with myself for the first time [being hurt], but I'm fine."

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Thursday he should have a better idea by the weekend about the Opening Day status of catcher Christian Vazquez (elbow) and closer Koji Uehara (hamstring), per The Boston Globe.

Farrell added Vazquez will catch a minor-league game Friday. Vazquez said Thursday he has no doubt he will be ready by Opening Day.

"I'm going to be ready," he said, per WEEI.com.

Uehara will throw off flat ground Thursday. Farrell hopeful Uehara will throw a bullpen session this weekend.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced Drew Butera will be the backup to starting catcher Chris Iannetta, per The Orange County Register. He beat out Carlos Perez for the backup role.

Butera, who is out of options, is batting .143 (3 for 21) with one double, one home run and three RBI in nine spring games.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons denied a previous report that he wanted Josh Thole to make the club to catch knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, and general manager Alex Anthopoulos did not, according to Sportsnet.ca.

Thole is hitting .333/.423/.429 through 21 Grapefruit League at-bats.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez will test his elbow by catching in a minor league game on Saturday, per the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham. 

Vazquez was sidelined for five days with soreness in his throwing elbow. He was able to bat in a minor league game on Wednesday but didn't play the field.