MLB Player News

Sanchez will be behind the plate to catch Gerrit Cole on Opening Day, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cole was exclusively paired with backup catcher Kyle Higashioka during the latter part of the 2020 season, but the Yankees will give Sanchez another chance to receive for the team's ace April 1. The decision to sit the slugger during Cole's pitching days last season wasn't entirely for defensive reasons -- Sanchez struggled so much offensively that the team shied away from him in the playoffs as well. Sanchez is faring somewhat better at the plate this spring, slashing .194/.265/.484 in comparison to last season's .147/.253/.365 line.

Stubbs left Monday's game against the Mets after a pitch hit his head, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Stubbs was thankfully able to walk to the dugout under his own power. The severity of his injury is not yet clear.

Bemboom is slashing .111/.158/.111 across nine Cactus League games.

The backstop has struck out only twice in 18 at-bats, but that's about the only positive that can be made of his stat line. Bemboom is third on the Angels' catching depth chart and is likely to open the season in the minors.

Thaiss was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

Thaiss got work at several defensive positions this spring but was unable to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old appeared in 11 Cactus League games and went 2-for-17 with a double, one run, one walk and eight strikeouts.

Murphy went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a Cactus League win over the Angels on Saturday.

The sixth-inning round tripper is Murphy's only hit through his first nine spring plate appearances after making his debut Thursday following his recovery from surgery to address a collapsed lung. Murphy should continue to see plenty of action over the balance of the Cactus League schedule in an attempt to get him up to speed ahead of the regular season.

Perez agreed to a four-year, $82 million extension with the Royals on Sunday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

The extension begins in 2022 and includes a $13.5 million club option or $2 million buyout for 2026. The veteran backstop will turn 31 years old in May and posted a career-best .986 OPS in 156 plate appearances last season. Perez appeared in at least 129 games in each of the previous six seasons before the shortened 2020 campaign.

Higashioka (side) will bat seventh and start behind the plate Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Higashioka had been out for most of the week due to side soreness. He was originally expected back Saturday, though the one-day delay shouldn't significantly impact his readiness for the upcoming season.

Heim is projected as the backup catcher on the Opening Day roster by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Heim hasn't done much at the plate this spring, going 1-for-15 over seven Cactus League games, but the Rangers are impressed with his defensive skills. That he's already on the 40-man roster works to his advantage over Drew Butera, who is not on the 40-man. A rebuilding team doesn't need to create room for a 36-year-old veteran. The 25-year-old Heim made his MLB debut in 2020 while with Oakland and slashed .211/.268/.211 over 13 games.

Higashioka (side) is now expected to return to action Sunday against Toronto, Max Goodman of Sports Illustrated reports.

Manager Aaron Boone had previously indicated that Higashioka would start Saturday's game against Baltimore, but the backstop's return from side soreness is now expected to come Sunday instead. There's no indication that Higashioka has suffered a setback; rather, Boone indicated that he wants Gary Sanchez catching Saturday in order for him to log consecutive games behind the plate. Higashioka's move to Sunday means he will now catch ace Gerrit Cole against the Blue Jays.

Collins altered his plate approach and is more aggressive earlier in counts which has produced a 1.039 spring OPS , Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Collins has a reputation for an impeccable eye, but his less-than-aggressive approach hasn't worked in MLB, where pitchers can get a young hitter out no matter what the count. In a small sample size, Collins is slashing .391/.517/.522 this spring and pushing Jonathan Lucroy to be the top backup catcher. "I've been swinging a lot more often," he said. "Still taking my walks, but it's me striking out a lot less, which is why I think you see the average a lot higher, the OPS higher." His work with the bat is one thing, but Collins needs to improve defensively as well. That's been happening under the tutelage of Yasmani Grandal, but the White Sox, who expect to go deep into the postseason, may prefer the established Lucroy as the top backup. The left-handed hitting Collins could still make the Opening Day roster as a third catcher that can also fill in at first base and DH.