MLB Player News

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal was activated from the restricted list Tuesday, as his 50-game suspension has come to an end. The team optioned John Baker to Triple-A Tucson, and designated infielder Edinson Rincon for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. 

Let's not mince words here: If you're starting Buster Posey, Carlos Santana, Joe Mauer, Yadier Molina, Matt Wieters, Mike Napoli, Brian McCann or maybe Wilin Rosario at catcher, you're probably not picking up the Padres' Yasmani Grandal in anticipation of his return from a 50-game suspension Tuesday. If you're starting anyone else, you probably are.

Or at least, you probably should. The .863 OPS he compiled over the three months or so that he was in the big leagues last year would have ranked fourth among full-time catchers if he had done it over a full season, placing him ahead of Santana and Mauer, among others. Now, you could argue the OPS was artificially enhanced by the PEDs he was using, and maybe it was. But it's not like he was some out-of-nowhere minor-league journeyman putting up those numbers. He was the 12th overall pick in 2010 -- a legit prospect with big-time potential.

Plus, his batting eye was as responsible for his impressive debut as anything else. As long as that wasn't a fluke, I'd bank on the reduced fences at PETCO Park allowing Grandal to produce at near the level he did last year.

The Padres are set to activate catcher Yasmani Grandal Tuesday, as his 50-game performance-enhancing drug suspension has come to a close. The team plans to option John Baker to Triple-A Tucson to make room for Grandal.

Grandal appeared in nine minor-league games prior to his activation, batting .306 without a home run. He is expected to be the team's primary catcher. 

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal 's 50-game drug suspension is nearly over, and the team expects him back in the next few days. Grandal could return as early as Tuesday in Seattle, according to U-T San Diego.

He has been playing at Triple-A Tucson, where he has a .731 on-base plus slugging percentage in nine games. 

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said during a television interview Tuesday the team will proceed with caution with catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud because he has missed so much time the last two seasons with injuries, according to the New York Post. However, Alderson added if d'Arnaud is healthy, he will be in the majors this season.

d'Arnaud is currently recovering from a fractured right foot and Alderson hopes he's playing in games again by July 1.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco hit his second home run of the season Tuesday, top cap off a 4-0 win over the Mets.

Mesoraco hit a solo home run in the ninth inning, to add an insurance run, after walking in a run in the first inning. Mesoraco finished the game 1 for 3 with two RBI, one run scored and one walk. He is batting .234 in 77 at-bats. 

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal (suspension) is batting .333 (3 for 9) with one double and one RBI through his first three games with Triple-A Tucson.

Grandal's 50-game suspension for testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone ends May 28. He's not sure if the Padres will recall him immediately, but Grandal said his focus is on making sure he's getting his at-bats leading up to his potential recall.

"I've got to get my work in first," Grandal said, per MLB.com. "I'm trying to get as many at-bats as I can here and trying to get a feel for the game again at the upper levels. I think they're going to be enough for me to go up to the big leagues. Whether I go up on the 28th or not, that's all up to [San Diego general manager] Josh Byrnes, I guess. I'm just concentrating on getting at-bats down here."

In early May, Padres catcher Nick Hundley was very critical of teammate Yasmani Grandal, who is on the verge of returning from a 50-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. However, manager Bud Black said during an interview with MLB Network Radio that the incident has been handled.

"Nick Hundley's quotes are in the past," Black said. "I talked to them both, then they spoke. They're all good."

Hundley is expected to share the catching duties once Grandal's suspension ends.

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, who is serving a 50-game suspension, began his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson Saturday.

Grandal went 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. He is not scheduled to play Sunday, but will resume his rehab Monday. He is eligible to return May 28 from suspension.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson confirmed Friday that injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud (foot) should begin playing in minor league games by the end of June, Newsday reports.

The 24-year-old remains in a walking boot after he suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left foot during a game in the middle of April with Las Vegas. The Mets will move him along slowly.