MLB Player News

Mejia and the Rays agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.455 million contract to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Now that he's on the books for 2022, Mejia should be locked in to the smaller portion of a timeshare at catcher with Mike Zunino. Last season, the role gave Mejia a modicum of value in AL-only formats and in deeper mixed leagues that started two catchers. He logged 277 plate appearances -- a high total for a nominal No. 2 catcher -- and finished with a palatable .260 average to go with six home runs, 35 RBI and 31 runs.

Stassi signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Angels on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

The agreement allows the two sides to avoid arbitration. He's coming off a solid season which saw him hit .241/.326/.426 with 13 homers in 87 games, though his 31.7 percent strikeout rate creates some risk heading into the upcoming season.

Higashioka and the Yankees agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $935,000 contract to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Higashioka is projected to fill the short side of a catching platoon in 2022 with the lefty-hitting Ben Rortvedt, whom the Yankees acquired earlier this month in the deal that sent fellow backstop Gary Sanchez to Minnesota. Rortvedt is currently tending to a Grade 1 oblique strain that could keep him on the shelf to begin the season, so Higashioka may enjoy a brief run of steady starts in April. Higashioka logged 211 plate appearances over 67 games in 2021, hitting a mere .181 but providing solid power numbers (10 home runs, 29 RBI).

Garver and the Rangers agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.335 million deal Tuesday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

The agreement means Garver won't have to go through the arbitration process with his new team. He'll receive a raise of roughly $1.5 million in his second season of arbitration eligibility after a season in which he hit .256/.358/.517 with 13 homers in just 68 games.

McCann was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros due to back tightness, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

McCann is scheduled to receive further evaluation from the Mets' training staff, but the team doesn't believe the injury is a serious concern at this juncture. Tomas Nido will get the nod at catcher in McCann's stead, forming a battery with ace Jacob deGrom in the latter's first start of the spring.

Hedges agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Guardians on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Hedges will get a decent payday in his final year of arbitration eligibility. He must be getting paid purely for his defense, as he's hit a miserable .174/.236/.307 over the last three seasons.

Caratini and the Padres agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal Tuesday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

The contract means the two sides won't have to go through arbitration. Caratini will be part of a crowded catcher depth chart in San Diego this season, with Austin Nola, Jorge Alfaro and Luis Campusano all competing for playing time.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Barnes passed all concussion testing and is considered day-to-day, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Barnes was fortunate to avoid the concussion after he exited Monday's Cactus League game against the White Sox upon taking a foul tip to his catcher's mask. Roberts suggested that the veteran backstop would likely remain out of the lineup for a couple more days before checking back in behind the dish by the end of the week.

Narvaez agreed Tuesday with the Brewers on a one-year, $5 million contract to avoid arbitration, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

With Narvaez now under contract for 2022, he'll begin preparing for his third season as the Brewers' No. 1 backstop. He should remain one of the better fantasy options at catcher after hitting .266 with 11 home runs, 54 runs and 49 RBI across 445 plate appearances in 2021 en route to earning his first All-Star nod.

Barnes left Monday's exhibition against the White Sox early after taking a foul tip to his catcher's mask, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Skipper Dave Roberts noted after the game that Barnes was feeling "a little foggy" after the foul tip, so the team decided to exercise caution by removing him. He'll be considered day-to-day moving forward and will be re-evaluated Tuesday, per Toribio.