MLB Player News

Barnes has fared well in spring training and may split catching duties when the regular season commences, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Barnes entered spring training behind fellow backstop Will Smith in the pecking order. While Barnes posted a 1.033 OPS in 21 at-bats, Smith lagged behind with a .518 OPS in the same number of trips to the plate. The sample size is small and both players had similar strikeout and walk numbers this spring, but manager Dave Roberts' description of their "partnership" behind the plate could imply that they'll get nearly equal playing time at the start of the season.

Smith could find himself in a timeshare behind the plate when the regular season begins, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Smith entered spring training with a firm grasp on primary catcher duties, but that may have changed after he went only 3-for-21 (.143) in Cactus League play. Meanwhile, his main competition for backstop duties, Austin Barnes, posted a 1.033 OPS during spring contests. While manager Dave Roberts stated that the pair is part of a "partnership" behind the plate, a general idea of how playing time will be divided remains unclear.

Rogers was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.

Rogers was able to make his major-league debut over the second half of 2019, but he struggled against the top-level talent, hitting .125/.222/.259 with four home runs and 51 strikeouts over 35 games. The 24-year-old managed to hit two home runs in seven at-bats during spring training, but the team will opt to give him more time to develop in the minors prior to a potential return to the big leagues at some point in 2020.

Stubbs is batting .455 (5-for-11) with a home run, two RBI and two stolen bases over 10 spring games.

Stubbs is competing with Dustin Garneau to be the backup catcher to starter Martin Maldonado. Stubbs has experience in the outfield as well as catcher and brings a modicum of speed (47 SB in minors), so he could land as the 26th man for the Astros, if he doesn't win the No. 2 catcher job.

Bemboom was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.

Bemboom got a shot to compete for the backup catcher spot behind Jason Castro this spring, but he did not do enough to make the cut, putting up just a .690 OPS over 18 plate appearances. With Bemboom opening the season in the minors, Max Stassi is now on track to open the regular season as the Angels' No. 2 option behind the plate.

The Reds optioned Stephenson to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.

Cincinnati's top catching prospect wasn't a serious threat to crack the Opening Day roster with all of Tucker Barnhart, Curt Casali and Kyle Farmer ahead of him in the organizational pecking order. The 2015 first-round pick will likely spend the majority of the season at Louisville honing his receiving skills, but Stephenson could get a look in the majors at some point if the Reds are eager to phase out Barnhart in favor of a higher-upside offensive option behind the dish.

Jackson was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

While the move currently doesn't matter much with both the MLB and MiLB seasons suspended, it does confirm that Jackson will begin the regular season in the minors whenever play does resume. The 24-year-old did slug 28 homers in 85 games for Gwinnett last year, but his hit tool and defense behind the plate both remain a work in progress.

McCann is expected to make the Opening Day roster, Scott Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. He's batting .250 (5-for-20) with a double, a triple and three RBI over eight spring contests.

McCann was a surprise in 2019 when he achieved career highs in all the major offensive categories. As Welington Castillo struggled through injuries, McCann took over the starting job and thrived as the primary starter. A strong first half earned him an All-Star selection, before McCann fell off over the second half. The White Sox added Yasmani Grandal to the equation, so McCann will drop down the backup and mentor to prospect Zack Collins, who could make the team as the third catcher and 26th man.

Nido has gone 2-for-16 (.125) with a 1:6 BB:K to begin the spring.

The 25-year-old came into camp the favorite to win the No. 2 catching job behind Wilson Ramos, and while Nido hasn't done anything to distinguish himself at the plate, his main competition Rene Rivera hasn't made a big impact either. Expect the battle to be won by whichever receiver the pitching staff prefers working with rather than the offensive contribution they can make.

Barrera has gone 1-for-7 with a strikeout to begin the spring.

The fact that the 25-year-old didn't get much playing time even when Welington Castillo was sidelined in camp with a sore shoulder indicates where Barrera sits on the depth chart for the Nats at catcher. He got his first cup of coffee last year in the majors and posted a .704 OPS through 101 games for Double-A Harrisburg, but Barrera will likely need multiple injuries behind the plate to return to the big-league roster in 2020.