MLB Player News

Plawecki agreed to a contract with the Red Sox on Thursday, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

Plawecki struggled at the plate in 2019 by hitting .222/.287/.342 with only three home runs and 17 RBI over 60 games with Cleveland, but he'll get a chance to play for his third team in as many seasons. The deal is worth $900,000 over one year, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Plawecki will likely serve as a backup behind Christian Vazquez to begin the 2020 season.

Haase was designated for assignment by the Indians on Sunday.

Haase appeared in 10 games (17 plate appearances) with the Indians in 2019 and went 1-for-16 with a home run, three RBI and eight strikeouts. Cleveland already has a solid major-league catching duo with Roberto Perez and the recently signed Sandy Leon.

Maldonado signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Astros on Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado made three stops in 2019, playing for the Cubs, Astros and Royals. He slashed .213/.293/.378 with 12 home runs and 27 RBI over 105 contests. Maldonado will bring a veteran presence behind the dish and is set to compete for playing time with Garrett Stubbs and Dustin Garneau.

Stubbs is expected to get looks in the infield during spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Stubbs saw time in the outfield with the Astros a season ago, manning left field in seven contests. It would certainly make him a more valuable ballplayer if he's able to add a few infield positions to his repertoire.

Manager Mike Matheny said Tuesday that Perez (elbow) could see considerable time at first base in 2020, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Since debuting with the Royals in 2011, Perez has shouldered one of the heavier workloads among all big-league catchers, but the Royals will likely be more cautious with his usage behind the plate after Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2019 campaign. Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com relayed in November that Perez is right on schedule with his recovery and should be restriction-free once spring training arrives, so the 29-year-old should have ample time to get acclimated to the defensive nuances of first base. That being said, Ryan O'Hearn, Ryan McBroom and Hunter Dozier represent the main candidates to man the position in 2020, so Perez's opportunities at first base (and designated hitter too, for that matter) will most likely come on the occasions where the team wants to give him a day off from catching while simultaneously keeping his bat in the lineup.

Murphy will likely serve as the Mariners' primary catcher in 2020 after Omar Narvaez was traded to the Brewers on Thursday, ESPN reports.

Murphy saw an increased role for the Mariners in 2019 even while working behind Narvaez, as he managed to appear in 76 games. Over the season, the 28-year-old hit .273/.324/.535 with 18 home runs and 40 RBI. Austin Nola will likely serve as the backup, but Murphy could gain fantasy relevance in deeper leagues in 2020 if he continues to produce.

Leon signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Cleveland on Monday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Cleveland clearly wanted to keep the catcher around after acquiring him in a trade from Boston earlier in the day. He lines up as the backup behind Roberto Perez.

McCann agreed to a one-year, $5.4 million deal with the White Sox, avoiding arbitration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

While the signing of Yasmani Grandal greatly reduces McCann's role with Chicago going forward, he was worth 2.3 fWAR in 476 plate appearances last year, so it would have been surprising to see him non-tendered. McCann enters 2020 as one of the better backup catchers in the American League.

Leon was traded to the Indians on Monday in exchange for Adenys Bautista.

Leon served as the backup catcher for the Red Sox, and he will likely take on a similar role for the Indians behind Roberto Perez (ankle), who had surgery in October but is expected to be ready for spring training. Over 65 games in 2019, Leon hit .192/.251/.297 with just five home runs and 19 RBI.

McCann will still have a role with the White Sox following the signing of Yasmani Grandal, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

McCann hit an unexpectedly strong .273/.328/.460 and made the All-Star team in 2019, though Grandal deservedly has the greater reputation between the pair. It would be a surprise to see McCann match his career-high 476 plate appearances in the upcoming season, but the White Sox will look to keep him as involved as possible, utilizing the designated hitter spot frequently for both catchers.