MLB Player News

Trevino (shoulder) will start spring training "a little behind" other catchers, Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Trevino, who underwent shoulder surgery last July, is expected to need at least another season in the minors. "Ideally, he gets time to develop," said general manager Jon Daniels. That likely means Trevino will open the year at Triple-A Nasvhille of the Pacific Coast League.

The Rangers signed Sanchez to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Sanchez was acquired by Texas from Cincinnati last season and appeared in 50 games with Triple-A Round Rock. The graduate of Boston College has played 52 career games in the majors and could factor into the Rangers' plans at catcher. Texas will have four catchers with major-league experience entering spring training: Sanchez, Jeff Mathis, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and non-roster addition Jett Bandy.

Sanchez (concussion) agreed to a minor-league contract with Detroit on Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Sanchez was let go by the Giants in June of 2018 after his latest concussion, but he'll be brought aboard by the Tigers and has received an invitation to spring training. Grayson Greiner and John Hicks are the favorites to begin the season as the top two catchers on the big-league team, so Sanchez along with Kade Scivivque and Bobby Wilson appear in line to begin the year at Triple-A Toledo as organizational depth. Sanchez last appeared in the majors during the 2017 season with the Padres, posting a .219/.245/.423 slash line with eight homers and 25 RBI through 75 games.

Leon signed a one-year, $2.475 million deal with the Red Sox on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Leon had an abysmal offensive campaign in 2018 with a .177/.232/.279, and was the worst hitter in the league with a 33 wRC+ (minimum 250 plate appearances). The 29-year-old should remain a part of Boston's catching situation in 2019 with Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart, neither of which performed significantly better offensively last season.

Plawecki and the Indians agreed to a one-year, $1.1375 million contract Wednesday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Plawecki was acquired just three days prior and looks to be in line for a split with Roberto Perez behind the plate in Cleveland. Perez has never started more than 66 games behind the plate in Cleveland, typically playing a heavy backup role behind the now-departed Yan Gomes, but it remains to be seen whether Plawecki or Perez will be the leading man this season.

Perez signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

The deal includes an invitation to spring training, though Perez seems more likely to open the season in the minors as catching depth. The backstop spent time with the Braves and Rangers in 2018, appearing in 28 games and slashing .143/.178/.214.

Plawecki was traded from the Mets to the Indians for pitcher Walker Lockett and infielder Sam Haggerty on Sunday.

Following the Mets' signing of Wilson Ramos, Plawecki looked to eventually wind up squeezed out of a roster spot in the big leagues. The Mets decided to use him as a trade piece, sending him to a Cleveland team that is a bit thin at catcher after shipping Yan Gomes away earlier in the offseason. Plawecki certainly doesn't possess the same offensive upside as Gomes, though, and his value is limited further if he ends up in a timeshare behind the plate with Roberto Perez, as the Indians employed in the past.

General manager Brian Cashman relayed last week that Sanchez has finished the "heavy lifting" of his rehab from left shoulder surgery and will serve as the Yankees' primary catcher in 2019, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Sanchez was a major disappointment both offensively and defensively in 2018, slashing just .186/.291/.406 across 374 plate appearances while yielding 18 passed balls, five more than any other backstop. The 26-year-old's lack of defensive polish may force a move to first base or designated hitter down the line, but the Yankees remain hopeful that with improved health, Sanchez can acquit himself well enough to be a passable option behind the dish. For fantasy purposes, Sanchez still projects as an elite fantasy asset at the position if he can avoid the extended absences and terrible luck on balls in play that marred his 2018 campaign.

McCann agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the White Sox on Friday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

McCann will provide some additional catching depth on Chicago's roster behind Welington Castillo after the team traded away Omar Narvaez two weeks ago. During 118 games with the Tigers this past season, McCann hit just .220/.267/.314 with eight home runs and 39 RBI after having a solid season at the dish in 2017. The 28-year-old should only be considered as a fringe option in two-catcher leagues heading into spring training.

The White Sox traded Narvaez to the Mariners on Friday in exchange for Alex Colome.

Narvaez was one of the best hitting catchers in baseball last summer, slashing .315/.401/.502 with nine homers over the final four months. His 122 wRC+ ranked fifth among catchers with at least 200 plate appearances. This trade is great news for his fantasy value, as Narvaez appears primed to serve as a true primary starter with Seattle instead of splitting time with Welington Castillo.