MLB Player News

Perez (oblique) took batting practice against teammate Anthony Banda (elbow) in Port Charlotte on Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Perez made steady progress throughout the last few days, and Saturday was another step towards getting back into game action. Assuming there are no setbacks stemming from his latest activity, the young backstop could begin a brief rehab assignment with High-A Charlotte as soon as Sunday.

Smith will go back to Triple-A Oklahoma City when Austin Barnes (groin) returns from the injured list, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Smith has started four of six games since getting called up after Barnes' injury, but manager Dave Roberts said that the 24-year-old will head back to Triple-A when Barnes returns. Barnes is eligible for activation June 7, so Smith should see a few more at-bats as the stopgap until then. He was lighting up Triple-A before his callup and made a good first impression at the dish and defensively, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Smith get another run with the big club somewhere down the line this season.

Mejia (knee) was activated off the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.

Mejia was with El Paso on a rehab assignment for a left knee sprain, and he will remain there instead of returning to the Padres. The young catcher slashed .167/.207/.259 with a 31 percent strikeout rate in 19 games prior to suffering the injury May 11. Austin Allen should continue to serve as the backup to starter Austin Hedges.

Maldonado left Saturday's game against the Rangers with right forearm tightness, Joel Goldberg of FOX Sports Kansas City reports.

Maldonado's removal was reportedly precautionary. If he's forced to miss an extended period, Cam Gallagher would take over as the Royals' primary catcher.

Narvaez will remain on the bench against the Angels on Saturday.

Narvaez will sit for the second game in a row and the third time in four contests. He's gone just 2-for-15 in his last five games but still has a strong .287/.362/.465 line on the season, so it would be a surprise to see him lose his starting job. Tom Murphy will start behind the plate again.

Vazquez is not in the lineup Saturday against the Yankees, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Vazquez will sit for two games in a row for the first time all season. Sandy Leon will get the nod behind the plate.

Stewart opted out of his contract with the Padres on Saturday, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports.

The 37-year-old had played 19 games for Triple-A El Paso, hitting .277/.333/.354. Stewart has appeared in at least one big-league game in 12 of the last 13 seasons but might be at the end of the road at this point, as he hasn't hit above .214 in the majors since 2015.

Perez is not in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

He is hitting .152 with two home runs over his last 10 games. Kevin Plawecki will start behind the dish and hit eighth.

Murphy went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Friday's 4-3 win over the Angels.

The backup catcher scored on a Dylan Moore single in the third inning, and then went yard in the fifth inning to extend the Mariners' lead to 3-0 at the time. In 20 games, Murphy is hitting .302 with three homers and four doubles across 63 at-bats, although Omar Narvaez continues to have a strong hold on the starting catcher job in Seattle.

Garver (ankle) caught a full game behind the plate Friday for Double-A Pensacola and is likely to be activated from the 10-day IL shortly, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

He could be activated from the IL as soon as Saturday. He's been playing in rehab games since Monday as he recovers from a high ankle sprain.