MLB Player News

Manager Walk Weiss said Tuesday that Murphy (finger) is expected to be sidelined at least eight weeks, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

The veteran backstop landed on the injured list earlier Tuesday due to a fractured left middle finger, which he sustained Sunday in just his fourth game of the season after opening the year on the injured list while rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Murphy's absence will extend into July and could push beyond the All-Star break. Drake Baldwin is poised to work as Atlanta's starting catcher, and the club signed Sandy Leon to fill the backup job.

Atlanta signed Leon to a major-league contract Tuesday.

The veteran backstop signed with Atlanta as a non-roster invitee in February but failed to make the Opening Day roster and was released in April to pursue an opportunity in the Mexican League. Leon is back on a big-league deal this time since Sean Murphy (finger) was placed on the injured list. Leon should serve as the backup to Drake Baldwin while Murphy is sidelined.

Atlanta placed Murphy on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 11, due to a fractured left middle finger.

The 31-year-old sustained the injury on a catcher's interference when behind the plate during Sunday's game against the Dodgers and will be forced to miss some time. After spending the first month-plus of the season rehabbing from September hip surgery, Murphy is now back on the shelf after going 1-for-14 in four games for Atlanta. Drake Baldwin will operate as the club's clear No. 1 catcher moving forward, and veteran Sandy Leon was signed to serve as the backup while Murphy is out.

The Giants optioned Porter to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Porter served as a third catcher for a couple days and did not receive a plate appearance for the Giants.

Villarroel (knee) is slashing .067/.176/.067 with a 1:4 BB:K across 17 plate appearances in four outings with High-A Eugene this season.

Villarroel briefly played in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before joining Eugene, which placed him on the 7-day injured list April 3 following offseason meniscus surgery. The 21-year-old catcher has struggled since moving to High-A, going hitless in his first three appearances before logging a single in Sunday's 13-8 win over Vancouver.

The Cardinals promoted Rodriguez from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield on Monday, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports.

Rodriguez is only 19 but needs a new challenge after slashing .311/.430/.519 with four home runs and a 19:24 BB:K over 28 games with Peoria. The top prospect has continued to primarily play catcher this season (16 starts), but he's also been worked in at first base (six starts) and designated hitter (six starts). A permanent move off catcher could speed up Rodriguez's timeline for reaching the big leagues, though there's no indication at this point that the Cardinals are considering such a decision.

Baldwin went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-2 win over the Dodgers.

This was Baldwin's 10th homer of the season, three of which have come in May. He's batting .257 (9-for-35) this month, and he's added a 6:11 BB:K over that nine-game sample. Baldwin has cooled off a bit after starting the season at a blistering pace, but he's still providing high-quality performances for a catcher. Overall, he's batting .297 with an .892 OPS, 32 RBI, 35 runs scored and a stolen base across 41 contests. Baldwin could see more time behind the dish if Sean Murphy (finger) misses time after exiting Sunday's game early.

Murphy got an X-ray on his finger following Sunday's 7-2 win over the Dodgers, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Murphy was hurt when he was clipped by a Hyeseong Kim swing in the seventh inning on a play that was deemed catcher interference. The backstop remained in the contest until he was pinch-hit for in the ninth, and Drake Baldwin took over behind the plate in the bottom of that frame. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said after the contest that he thinks Murphy will be fine, though the skipper didn't share the results of the X-ray.

Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

The Padres will give Fermin the afternoon off after he started behind the plate in the first two games of the series. Rodolfo Duran will catch for starting pitcher Walker Buehler in the final game against St. Louis.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Alvarez started the previous five games and will get a well-deserved rest Sunday after going 5-for-17 with two walks, a double, an RBI and two runs during that span. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate and bat ninth for the series finale in Arizona.