The Rays re-signed Jackson (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The deal presumably includes an invitation to spring training. Jackson hit four homers in 14 games with Triple-A Durham this season after being acquired from the Brewers but missed the last several weeks of the season with a right shoulder injury. If healthy, he gives the Rays an option to pair with Rene Pinto at catcher.

Gallagher was designated for assignment by the Guardians on Monday.

Gallagher somehow was given 149 plate appearances in 2023 even as he slashed an embarrassing .126/.154/.168. He'll go through the waiver process.

The Guardians claimed Bethancourt off waivers from the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bethancourt spent a large portion of the 2023 season as the Rays' No. 1 catcher and put up decent counting statistics over his 332 plate appearances (11 home runs, 49 runs, 33 RBI and one stolen base), but an ugly .225/.254/.381 slash line (74 wRC+) made his less useful at the plate from a real-life standpoint. Still, the 32-year-old graded out as a capable defender behind the dish and wasn't a complete zero with the bat, so he should at least make for a dependable backup option and short-side platoon mate in Cleveland for No. 1 backstop Bo Naylor.

The Tigers plan to exercise Kelly's $3.5 million team option for 2024, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

After getting released by Arizona in mid-August, Kelly caught on with the Tigers shortly thereafter on a prorated one-year, $720,000 deal that included the club option for 2024. Over 19 games with the Tigers, Kelly hit just .173 and got on base at a .271 clip, but the organization was evidently satisfied enough with how the 29-year-old handled the pitching staff and acquitted himself defensively to justify bringing him back for 2024. Kelly will likely head into Opening Day as the Tigers' No. 2 catcher behind Jake Rogers.

The Rays placed Bethancourt on outright waivers Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bethancourt will join five teammates on the waiver wire in an effort from the Rays to clear space on the 40-man roster. The 32-year-old backstop slashed .225/.254/.381 across 332 plate appearances in 2023 and could be picked up by another team in search of a backup catcher.

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.

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.

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.

Wallach elected free agency Tuesday.

Wallach had been outrighted off the Angels' 40-man roster. The 31-year-old saw his most extensive big-league action to date in 2023 but produced just a .635 OPS in 65 contests for the Halos.

Perez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

The Athletics did some housecleaning with their 40-man roster Thursday and Perez is one of the players to lose his spot. He'll remain in the organization and represent catching depth.