MLB Player News

Mesoraco (foot) is expected to serve as the backup to Tucker Barnhart in 2018, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports.

Mesoraco has only been able to appear in 95 games over the past three years due to various injuries, including labrum tears in both hips, a left shoulder ailment, and most recently a broken foot which caused him to miss the rest of the 2018 season after sustaining the injury in mid-August. Moving forward, he will be behind the plate a couple times a week but mainly utilized as a pinch hitter in late-inning situations. During the 2017 season, Mesoraco slashed .213/.321/.390 with six home runs and 14 RBI in 56 games.

Barnhart will be the primary catcher heading into the 2018 season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Coming off a terrific season that saw him win the National League Gold Glove award, Barnhart will earn the "lion's share of the playing time" according to manager Bryan Price. Due to Devin Mesoraco's inability to stay off the disabled list -- coupled with Barnhart's performance -- the Reds will utilize the former All-Star as a backup and pinch hitter in the later innings. Barnhart was rewarded with a four-year, $16 million contract in September, after slashing .270/.347/.403 with seven home runs and 44 RBI in 2017.

Rosario cleared waivers and was outrighted off the Cardinals' 40-man roster Monday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old has appeared in just 23 games for the Cardinals over the past two seasons, hitting .171/.209/.429 in 44 plate appearances. With Yadier Molina and top-prospect Carson Kelly ahead of him on the depth chart, Rosario's path to the big leagues with St. Louis is very murky.

Wallach was claimed off waivers by the Marlins on Friday, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Wallach spent six games with the Reds in 2017, going 1-for-11 at the plate with five strikeouts during a limited opportunity in September. Moving ahead, he will serve as organizational depth for the Marlins, and will likely begin next season with Triple-A New Orleans.

Grandal is out of the lineup for Game 5 of the NLCS against the Cubs on Thursday.

Grandal will head to the bench for the fourth time in this series as Austin Barnes is set to catch Clayton Kershaw and bat seventh in the lineup. Over the course of the postseason, Grandal is just 0-for-5 at the plate, with three walks and two strikeouts.

Contreras (forearm) is starting at catcher and batting fifth for Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Contreras took a pitch off his forearm in the eighth inning of Game 3, but the injury was never expected to keep him out of the Cubs' crucial Game 4 clash. He's 2-for-11 with six strikeouts in the NLCS, which the Dodgers lead 3-0.

Contreras, who injured his forearm in Tuesday's game, is expected to be ready for Game 4 on Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

He went 1-for-3 with a strikeout before being replaced by Alex Avila in the Cubs' 6-1 loss to the Dodgers, who now lead the NLCS 3-0. Contreras took a pitch off the forearm in the eighth inning of Game 3, but barring excessive overnight swelling, he will be back for the potential elimination game.

Grandal is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Cubs on Tuesday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

Grandal is 0-for-7 in his career against Kyle Hendricks -- including an 0-for-3 performance in last year's NLCS -- so he'll open Game 3 on the bench as Austin Barnes draws another start behind the dish in his stead.

Grandal is out of the lineup for Game 2 of the NLCS against the Cubs on Sunday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Austin Barnes will serve as the Dodgers' backstop for the second consecutive day while Grandal sits out. Grandal has appeared in just one game during the 2017 postseason, in which he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Grandal is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Austin Barnes will draw in behind the plate to catch Clayton Kershaw as the Dodgers begin the NLCS. The Dodgers are facing left-hander Jose Quintana, which could also have attributed to Grandal's absence from the lineup given his .233 average against southpaws this season.