MLB Player News

Soderstrom reported to minor-league spring training at full health after he was sidelined for the final two months of the 2021 season plus the Arizona Fall League with an oblique strain, Melissa Lockard of The Athletic reports.

The injury spelled an early end to an impressive professional debut season for the 20-year-old catcher, who was a 2020 first-round selection. He saw action in 54 games for Low-A Stockton, slashing .306/.390/.568 with 33 extra-base hits and a 10.8 percent walk rate across 254 plate appearances. Soderstrom profiles as one of the top backstop prospects in all of baseball, but his bat remains firmly ahead of his glove at this stage of his development, making it uncertain whether he'll stick behind the plate long term. He's expected to begin the 2022 campaign at High-A Lansing.

Bethancourt signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Nov. 25.

Bethancourt will likely report to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the 2022 campaign, but he could be the first catcher in line for a promotion to the big club, given that the Athletics currently have only two backstops (Sean Murphy and Austin Allen) on the 40-man roster. The 30-year-old has previously seen big-league action with Atlanta and San Diego across five seasons from 2013 through 2017, slashing a collective .222/.252/.316 in 489 career plate appearances.

Bemboom signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Thursday, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.

Bemboom spent most of the 2021 season at the Triple-A level and slashed .232/.352/.412 with eight home runs, 37 RBI and 35 runs across 65 games. He appeared in eight major-league games with the Angels and should be in the mix to join the Orioles' active roster at some point in 2022.

Plawecki signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Plawecki served mainly as a secondary option at catcher behind Christian Vazquez in 2021, and he'll likely take on a similar role to begin the 2022 campaign. Across 64 appearances last year, the 30-year-old hit .287 with three homers, 15 runs and 15 RBI.

Deglan signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Monday.

The deal includes an invitation to big-league spring training, but Deglan will more than likely be bound for Triple-A Buffalo before the regular season gets underway. The 29-year-old backstop split time at the Triple-A level between Buffalo and the Yankees' affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2021, slashing .211/.320/.358 over 109 plate appearances.

The Guardians signed Leon on Monday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

Austin Hedges is the only MLB-ready catcher left on Cleveland's 40-man roster after the team declined Roberto Perez's $7 million option for 2022 earlier this month, so Leon helps restore some depth at the position. Though he won't be added to the roster immediately, Leon should get the opportunity to compete for the No. 2 spot on the Guardians' depth chart at catcher heading into Opening Day. Leon logged 220 plate appearances for the Marlins in 2021, slashing .183/.237/.267 with four home runs, 15 runs and 14 RBI.

Wallach was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Wallach spent time with the Marlins, Dodgers and Angels in 2021 but will now lose his spot on the 40-man roster. He hit .200 with six RBI and two runs across 23 major-league appearances with Miami last year.

The Red Sox picked up Vazquez's club option for 2022 on Sunday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Vazquez is in line to serve as Boston's primary catcher once again in 2022 after his $7 million option was picked up. He appeared in 138 games during the 2021 campaign and slashed .258/.308/.352 with six homers, 51 runs, 49 RBI and eight stolen bases.

Pinto was added to the Rays' 40-man roster on Sunday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The 25-year-old catcher has never played in the majors and hit .299/.327/.532 with 12 home runs in 52 games at Triple-A last season. His 27.5 percent strikeout rate and 3.3 percent walk rate portend a much lower batting average against MLB pitching, but he's essentially ready to provide big-league depth behind Mike Zunino and Francisco Mejia.

The Tigers exercised Barnhart's $7.75 million club option for 2022 on Sunday.

As expected, the Tigers will keep Barnhart for 2022 after acquiring him from Cincinnati on Wednesday. Though he lacks the offensive potential of Eric Haase, Barnhart is touted for his defense and figures to be Detroit's primary catching option next season. The 30-year-old is a competent hitter himself, having slashed .247/.317/.368 with seven home runs and 48 RBI in 2021.