MLB Player News

The Braves have optioned catcher Christian Bethancourt to Double-A.

The 21-year-old hit .243/.275/.291 in 288 plate appearances at Double-A last season. Catchers Evan Gattis and Gerald Laird will likely begin the year on the 25-man roster until Brian McCann is ready to return.

Mets top prospect Travis d'Arnaud was optioned to the team's minor-league camp on Sunday after an encouraging showing in Grapefruit League play. The highly touted catcher produced an impressive .355/.432/.484 slash line in 15 exhibition games, but New York can delay his first year of arbitration eligibility by a year if he's promoted later in the season, likely in mid-June.

"He played very well," general manager Sandy Alderson told ESPN.com. "He met all of our expectations, which I think for the organization and Mets fans were fairly high. He did a very nice job."

Giants catcher Hector Sanchez resumed throwing and taking swings from the left side without reporting any shoulder pain, according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Sanchez is expected to play in an exhibition game in two or three days, barring any setbacks.

Giants catcher Hector Sanchez (shoulder) returned to action in a pinch-hit appearance Thursday against the Rockies in Cactus League action. Sanchez, who had not played since March 12, came on in the sixth inning as a DH and struck out swinging. He is hitting .200 with three RBI in 20 at-bats this spring.

The Giants have re-assigned catcher Johnny Monell to minor-league camp. Monell went 10 for 20 with a home run and five RBI in 14 Cactus League apperances.

Jon Heyman's estimation that the Mets' Travis d'Arnaud will spend only 1-3 months in the minors is kind of along the lines of what I've been thinking as I've drafted him as my second catcher in Rotisserie leagues and perhaps even my No. 1 in NL-only formats. Obviously, I'm hoping it's closer to the shorter end of that time frame, and sizing up the Mets' catcher situation, with John Buck at the top of the depth chart, I suspect it will be.

I mean, it's not like d'Arnaud isn't ready. The Blue Jays were planning to call him up before he tore a knee ligament last June.

Of course, Super 2 considerations could factor in to the decision, but given my newfound confidence in Tyler Flowers and Jason Castro as fallback options, stashing d'Arnaud is still worth the risk to me.

Mets catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud is expected to begin the season in Triple-A but will only be down there for one to three months, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman.

He was acquired in the R.A. Dickey trade and is expected to be the team’s catcher of the future. In 303 Triple-A plate appearances last season, d’Arnaud, 24, hit .333/.380/.595. 

The Mets will likely open the season with John Buck behind the plate. d’Arnaud should be a popular waiver wire pickup once he's promoted to the majors. 

MLB.com reports the Marlins reassigned Doug Mathis, Mitch Talbot, Ed Lucas and J.T. Realmuto to minor-league camp Wednesday.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy told Comcast SportsNet Bay Area that catcher Hector Sanchez could miss opening day as he continues to nurse a shoulder injury. Sanchez has not appeared in a Cactus League game since March 12. The Giants are expected to take a cautious approach with the 23-year-old since it is a recurring injury.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reported Sunday the Mets have been impressed with catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud this spring and expect to promote him sometime later this summer.

I anticipate d'Arnaud might come up at the same time as pitching prospect Zack Wheeler, who is also ticketed for Triple-A Las Vegas. The Mets seem keen on making sure those two develop rapport since they are expected to be integral part of the battery for years to come.

If you are in a deeper seasonal format, whether it be mixed or NL-only, I would stash d'Arnaud on your bench, if you have ample reserve spots. d'Arnaud can be an impact bat at a usually thin position, so he certainly is worth the gamble in deeper formats on Draft Day.

He slugged .542 in 114 games at Double-A in 2011 and slugged .595 in 67 games at Triple-A last season before hurting his knee. If those numbers translate well to the major-league level, then d'Arnaud could be a Fantasy staple for years to come.