MLB Player News

Gallagher is poised to begin the season as Kansas City's No. 2 catcher after Meibrys Viloria was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on March 10, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Salvador Perez missed the entire 2019 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but the team signed Martin Maldonado -- who has since been traded to Houston -- and Gallagher received only 145 plate appearances in 45 games. Following the demotion of Viloria, Gallagher is the only backstop on the major-league roster besides Perez and figures to serve as the backup catcher. Gallagher had a .292/.320/.375 slash line with two doubles in nine contests prior to the suspension of spring training.

Perez made his spring debut behind the plate Feb. 28 against San Francisco and started multiple games in the field before spring training was eventually suspended.

The 29-year-old was initially limited to serving as the designated hitter as he made his return from Tommy John surgery -- which cost him the entirety of 2019 -- and he ended up totaling five starts in the field. Perez appeared in 13 Cactus League games overall and had a .250/.342/.375 slash line with one home run in 32 at-bats, and he's poised to reclaim his everyday role once the season eventually begins.

Rogers was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.

Rogers was able to make his major-league debut over the second half of 2019, but he struggled against the top-level talent, hitting .125/.222/.259 with four home runs and 51 strikeouts over 35 games. The 24-year-old managed to hit two home runs in seven at-bats during spring training, but the team will opt to give him more time to develop in the minors prior to a potential return to the big leagues at some point in 2020.

Stubbs is batting .455 (5-for-11) with a home run, two RBI and two stolen bases over 10 spring games.

Stubbs is competing with Dustin Garneau to be the backup catcher to starter Martin Maldonado. Stubbs has experience in the outfield as well as catcher and brings a modicum of speed (47 SB in minors), so he could land as the 26th man for the Astros, if he doesn't win the No. 2 catcher job.

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

Bemboom got a shot to compete for the backup catcher spot behind Jason Castro this spring, but he did not do enough to make the cut, putting up just a .690 OPS over 18 plate appearances. With Bemboom opening the season in the minors, Max Stassi is now on track to open the regular season as the Angels' No. 2 option behind the plate.

McCann is expected to make the Opening Day roster, Scott Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. He's batting .250 (5-for-20) with a double, a triple and three RBI over eight spring contests.

McCann was a surprise in 2019 when he achieved career highs in all the major offensive categories. As Welington Castillo struggled through injuries, McCann took over the starting job and thrived as the primary starter. A strong first half earned him an All-Star selection, before McCann fell off over the second half. The White Sox added Yasmani Grandal to the equation, so McCann will drop down the backup and mentor to prospect Zack Collins, who could make the team as the third catcher and 26th man.

Vazquez is batting .167/.286/.278 over 10 Grapefruit League games.

Vazquez exploded for 23 home runs and a career-best .797 OPS in 2019, but the underlying advanced metrics don't indicate much difference than 2018, when he had three homers and a .540 OPS. There's reason to believe Vazquez will regress in 2020, but he's locked down the starting catcher job based on his defensive reputation. If the bat eventually becomes unplayable, the winner of the Kevin Plawecki/Jonathan Lucroy battle to be Vazquez's backup could get an increase in playing time.

General manager Brian Cashman said Friday that Sanchez has "improved" since being diagnosed with the flu Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez was hampered by lower-back tightness early in spring training and was later diagnosed with the flu Tuesday. Although all spring training activities have been suspended for the foreseeable future, Sanchez's improved physical state could allow him to ramp up baseball activities in the coming days, wherever he may decide to do so. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported earlier Friday that the majority of Yankees players plan on continuing informal workouts at the team's Tampa facility, so Sanchez could decide to do the same when he feels healthy enough.

Wynns (groin) will catch and bat eighth Thursday in the Orioles' Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Since being scratched from the lineup ahead of a March 4 game against the Marlins with a sore groin, Wynns has proceeded to appear in four spring contests, all as a reserve. The fact that he's now been cleared to start behind the dish suggests he's in sound health and shouldn't be hampered by injury in his bid for the Orioles' No. 2 catching job.

Plawecki went 1-for-2 with a double in Wednesday's spring game against the Rays.

Plawecki is 9-for-19 (.474) with a double and two RBI over 10 games. That line holds up well as the 29-year-old backstop competes with the 33-year-old Jonathan Lucroy for the backup catcher position. Both players have done enough to win the job, so the decision-making process will play itself out over the final two weeks. Plawecki comes at a cheaper price tag, but the Red Sox have financial flexibility after trading Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, and interim manager Ron Roenicke has history with Lucroy from their days with the Brewers.