MLB Player News

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports Mets catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud, who was acquired from Toronto in the R.A. Dickey trade this offseason, has impressed the Mets' front office this spring.

He is slated to begin the year at Triple-A Las Vegas, but he's expected to be promoted to the majors sometime this season.

d'Arnaud, who is considered a top 100 prospect by MLB.com (No. 6) and Baseball America (No. 23), is batting .308 (8 for 26) with two RBI, three doubles and five runs in 12 spring games. 

Mets catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud was 1 for 2 with a double and a run scored in a 4-2 loss to Miami in Grapefruit League play Saturday. d'Arnaud, considered the sixth-best prospect in the minors by MLB.com, continued to have no problems after being removed from a game earlier this month when he was hit by a pitch just below his right elbow.

In fact, he sat just one day after the early exit on March 8, which was considered a precaution, before returning to the lineup. d'Arnaud, projected to open the regular season with Triple-A Las Vegas, is hitting .308 with three walks this spring.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Giants have shut down catcher Hector Sanchez for a few days due to a sore shoulder. Sanchez should resume baseball activities Tuesday and will likely get a few extra swings in minor-league games before he is ready to return.

Giants catcher Hector Sanchez was scratched from Thursday's spring lineup becuase of a sore shoulder. Sanchez, who is expected to be Buster Posey's backup, has been limited to 21 innings this spring because of shoulder and calf injuries.

The Nationals made their second round of cuts Thursday, starting with optioning outfielder Eury Perez to Triple-A Syracuse. They also sent Nathan Karns, Sandy Leon and Anthony Rendon to Double-A Harrisburg, while reassigningPatrick McCoy, Will Rhymes and Matt Skole to minor-league camp.