MLB Player News

Hernandez was released by the Cardinals on Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Hernandez signed a minor-league deal in January as a non-roster invitee, but he failed to record a hit over seven plate appearances in spring training before play was suspended. The 26-year-old has struggled in recent seasons and hit just .192/.258/.355 with six home runs and 44 strikeouts over 54 games played at Double-A and Triple-A in 2019.

Knizner is viewed less as the organization's catcher of the future than Ivan Herrera, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hummel answers a question from a reader about whether Knizner is a future trade chip due to the presence of Herrera by noting he believes the former can still be an important member of the Cardinals. In addition to serving as a potential backup catcher and first baseman, Knizner could be a natural to fill a designated hitter role if it's instituted in the National League beginning in the 2022 season. The 25-year-old has essentially been in a holding pattern at Triple-A Memphis for the last two seasons while Yadier Molina continues to serve as the unquestioned top catcher when healthy, although Knizner did log his first 18 games of big-league action in 2019. It's also worth noting Knizner is significantly further along his developmental journey than Herrera; therefore, depending on a variety of factors, including the likelihood of a cancelled 2020 minor-league season and expanded rosters at the big-league level this year, Knizner could still put in at least two seasons at the major-league level before Herrera is ready to make his Cardinals debut.

Herrera, who hit .222 (2-for-9) across five Grapefruit League games before spring training was suspended, was earmarked for a return to Double-A Springfield at some point in 2020 as the primary catcher, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Herrera won't even turn 20 until June 1, but he's already made a relatively efficient climb up the organizational ladder in his two years of professional ball. Herrera actually logged five plate appearances and two games in Springfield back in 2018, making an experimental jump all the way up from Rookie-level Gulfport. The promising prospect then put in strong stints at both Low-A Peoria and High-A Palm Beach last year, and he generated a .324 average and .821 OPS across 10 contests in the Arizona Fall League as the youngest catcher to receive an invite. Herrera's defensive work is also starting to come along, and despite the presence of Andrew Knizner at Triple-A Memphis, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the team sees Herrera as the heir apparent to Yadier Molina and Knizner more as a potential backup both behind the dish and at first base.

Raleigh, who is considered the organization's top catcher prospect, could be a candidate for the practice squad each team may be allowed to keep during an abbreviated 2020 season, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Raleigh reached Double-A Arkansas for the first time in 2019, slashing .228/.296/.414 across 159 plate appearances over 39 games with the Travelers. Those numbers, as well Raleigh's .188 average (3-for-16) before Cactus League play was paused, both support the notion he'd be best served putting in at least a partial season back at the Double-A level this year, but that isn't likely to be a possibility. Therefore, Brock reasons the next best option to keep Raleigh's development going in some form is to keep him in proximity to the big-league club, which, among other benefits, would give the young catcher a chance to learn from veteran Tom Murphy.

Barnes has been able to both hit and catch during the suspension of play, he stated in an interview with John Hartung of Spectrum SportsNet LA on Wednesday.

"I'm able to play catch. I'm able to hit a little bit, find a cage here and there," Barnes explained. The 30-year-old indicated that he "feels good" and is ready to go should a second spring training take place in the weeks ahead. Barnes is slated to back up Will Smith behind the plate this season, though the two may approach something close to a split based on comments made by manager Dave Roberts before play was halted.

Perez was one of more than a dozen Rays players to participate in voluntary workouts at Tropicana Field on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The young backstop joined his teammates for activities such as playing catch, running, limited free-weight workouts and plyometric jumps, with the sessions held in staggered fashion and in groups of two. Perez was in position to secure the No. 2 catcher job behind Mike Zunino when spring training was suspended, although the expanded rosters and practice squads expected to be part of any abbreviated 2020 season should allow manager Kevin Cash to also keep at least one of veterans Kevan Smith and Chris Herrmann.

Campusano is a candidate to be placed on the Padres' taxi squad if a 2020 season takes place, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Campusano probably isn't ready for a leap to the major leagues -- he spent all of last season in High-A ball -- but placement on the taxi squad may be the best way to continue his development considering the perilous state of the minor-league season. The 21-year-old is coming off a co-MVP campaign in the California League and is considered the top catching prospect in the Padres' system.

Bemboom may spend more time in the majors than expected if a 2020 season is played with expanded rosters, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Bemboom was optioned to Triple-A in mid-March and was expected to open the season in the minors before play was suspended. However, the likelihood of expanded rosters means that he could be used as catching depth behind Jason Castro and Max Stassi on the big-league squad. Though Bemboom's offensive skillset is limited, his potential to garner major-league playing time is aided by the injury histories of both backstops ahead of him on the depth chart.

Contreras, who has consistently performed better in the first half of seasons, could excel during a shortened 2020 slate, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.

For his career, Contreras has posted better offensive numbers across the board in the first half of seasons. Last year, he led the Cubs with a .294 average and .965 OPS through 82 games. This isn't particularly surprising, given the wear and tear that comes with playing catcher. Contreras could end up benefiting from a shortened schedule, especially if teams are allowed to operate with expanded rosters and Chicago decides to keep a third catcher on the roster.

Caratini could work as the Cubs' DH if MLB adopts a universal DH for a shortened 2020 season, Will Laws of SI.com reports.

Kyle Schwarber is perhaps the first name that comes to mind as a DH for the Cubs, but he's improved his defensive play to the point where Chicago may elect to keep him in left field. That could open things up for Caratini as the team looks to get his bat in the lineup along with No. 1 catcher Willson Contreras. Caratini's DH case would be bolstered if the team kept three catchers, which would provide added insurance behind Contreras and take some burden off Caratini as a defensive option.