MLB Player News

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is coming off a pretty disappointing debut in 2013 after developing into one of the top catcher prospects in baseball. d'Arnaud hit just .202 with one home run and five RBI in 31 games last season and hopes to have better results in 2014.

"I want to improve obviously offensively," d'Arnaud told the New York Post. "Last year I didn’t do so well in the beginning of my debut, and I just want to go out there and take my singles and just try to make good contact, not do anything crazy."

d'Arnaud posted a .476 slugging percentage and had one 20-homer season in the minors. Though, being a power hitter is not the first thing on his mind.

"I mean, I’m not thinking homers, I’m just thinking get on base, drive in runs, and do whatever I can to help the team win," he said.

As for his personal goals for '14, d'Arnaud just wants to stay on the diamond after two straight injury-plagued seasons.

"My personal goal is to stay healthy all year, that’s my first one," he said. "My second one is to make the playoffs, and my third one is to become a better teammate and a better friend to all my teammates on my team."

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal will probably start the 2014 season on the disabled list.

Grandal had reconstructive surgery on his right knee last August, and he could need at least nine months to recover from the procedure.

The Braves were unwilling to meet the Rays' asking price of pitcher Alex Wood, catcher Christian Bethancourt and at least two other top prospects to acquire David Price, nor were they willing to trade outfielders Justin Upton or Jason Heyward in a package for Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija, MLB.com reports.

The Braves instead signed Gavin Floyd to a one-year deal rather than trade multiple significant pieces to acquire a proven ace. It appears to be a seller's market with regards to starting pitching that could potentially be traded this offseason.

With Ryan Hanigan traded to Tampa Bay, Devin Mesoraco is expected to take over as the Reds starting catcher in 2014 -- a role he tells the Cincinnati Enquirer he's ready to fill after splitting time with Hanigan the last two seasons.

"I believe that I'm an everyday catcher in the big leagues I don't think I've quite played as good as I can," he said. "I think playing every day, getting all the reps, getting that at-bats, that's only going to help. We'll go from there. We'll go from there and I believe we're going in the right direction."

Mesoraco, who was considered a top prospect when he first reached the majors in 2011, showed how he's capable of performing in an everyday role during a 22-game stretch that Ryan Hanigan missed with a wrist injury from early July to early August. Playing in 21 of those games, Mesoraco hit .286 with four homers and an .820 OPS in 70 at-bats.

"It was right after the All-Star break that Hani went down, and I'm not going to say it had to do with playing every day, but I think my comfort level at that time, I felt [more] comfortable, it was like it was my job, my team, I could go out there and be the player I feel like I can," Mesoraco said.

MLB.com reports that the Yankees traded catcher Chris Stewart to the Pirates on Monday. In exchange, the Yankees will receive a player to be named later.

Stewart was the Yankees' primary catcher in 2013, starting 97 games behind the plate while batting .211 with four home runs and 25 RBI. He will presumably be the backup to starting catcher Russell Martin.

The Giants have traded catcher Johnny Monell to the Orioles for cash considerations on Saturday, according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Monell will likely compete for the team's backup job. He went .275/.364/.494 with 20 homers and 64 RBI last season in Triple-A Fresno.

The Giants have designated catcher Johnny Monell and outfielder Francisco Peguero for assignment, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Monell hit .275/.364/.494 with 20 home runs and 64 RBI in 415 at-bats with Triple-A Fresno last season in his first extended action at the Triple-A level. Peguero went 6 of 29 with one home run for the Giants and hit .316/.354/.408 with three home runs and 30 RBI in 272 at-bats with Triple-A Fresno.

The Reds added outfielders Juan Duran and Ryan LaMarre, catcher Tucker Barnhart and pitcher Chad Rogers to the 40-man roster Wednesday.

Duran hit .251/.323/.450 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI in 407 at-bats with high Class A Bakersfield last season, his second in Bakersfield. LaMarre hit .246/.326/.373 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 451 at-bats during his second full season with Double-A Pensacola. Barnhart hit .260/.348/.348 with three home runs and 44 RBI in 339 at-bats during his first full season with Double-A Pensacola.

Rogers went 8-7 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 103:45 K:BB ratio in 140 innings over 25 starts between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville.

The San Diego Padres made a series of roster moves Monday as they reinstated pitchers Casey Kelly, Jason Marquis and catcher Yasmani Grandal from the 60-day disabled list. Marquis then declared for free agency.

Infielder Ronny Cedeno and outfielder Mark Kotsay also declared free agency. Kotsay said he was going to retire back in September after 17 seasons, including two stints in San Diego. Pitcher Tommy Layne, who had been designated for assignment last week, has been outrighted to Triple-A Reno.

Kelly and Grandal are both coming off major surgeries. Kelly, the team's No. 3 prospect, according to MLB.com, had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in April. He won't be ready for the 2014 regular season. Grandal had surgery to repair his right anterior cruciate ligament Aug. 6. He said he expects to be ready for spring training.

With catcher Brian McCann heading into free agency this offseason, the Braves face uncertainty at the catcher position for the first time in eight years. Manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated Wednesday that Evan Gattis, Gerald Laird and Christian Bethancourt are all in the mix for playing time behind the plate, MLB.com reports.

"Maybe not knowing what's going on, but you give Bethancourt a little chance and bring him along a little bit," Gonzalez told MLB.com. "Go with Gattis and Laird, and throw Bethancourt a bone every once in a while, put Gattis out in left field because we know that he can do it."

McCann played 92 games behind the plate in 2013, including 91 starts and 84 complete games. Gattis made 42 appearances and 38 starts at catcher while drawing 48 appearances (47 starts) in left field, as well as four appearances at first base. Laird was the only other Brave to draw playing time at catcher, making 40 appearances and 33 starts at the position.