MLB Player News

Leon is in the lineup against the Astros for Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Leon will handle the catching duties for Thursday's series opener with right-hander Justin Verlander taking the hill for Houston. Since Aug. 24, Leon is hitting just .161 with one home run and four RBI in 17 starts.

Vazquez is not in the lineup for Thursday's ALDS opener against the Astros, The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reports.

Sandy Leon will set up behind the plate for Game 1 while Vazquez occupies a seat on the bench. Although he's cooled off a little bit as of late, Vazquez has been hitting well this season, slashing .290/.330/.404 with five home runs and 32 RBI, and could receive a start for Friday's contest with left-hander Dallas Keuchel on the mound.

Glenn agreed to a minor-league deal with the Mets on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old played in just 20 games this year at Triple-A Las Vegas, slashing .234/.321/.340. Dunn also struck out in 30.2 percent of his plate appearances. The Mets currently have decent depth at catcher, so it's likely he will stay at Triple-A in a similar role next season.

Perez agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

Perez will return to the Diamondbacks rather than test the minor-league free agent market. He posted his best season to date in 2017, hitting .279/.365/.424 in 80 games with Double-A Jackson while drawing praise as one of the best defensive catchers at that level. The 25-year-old will continue his climb to the majors next season, likely starting the year out with Triple-A Reno.

Murphy went hitless in four at-bats following his September callup.

The catching prospect saw little playing time down the stretch with the Rockies in the thick of the playoff race -- a disappointing finish to a disappointing season. Expected by many to move into the starting catcher role at some point in 2017, he wound up getting hurt during spring training and struggling at the plate in the minors. Heading into 2018, Murphy still looks like a candidate to assume full-time catching duties, but he'll need to show that this past season was simply a fluke and not a sign of things to come.

Casali went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two RBI in Sunday's 6-0 win over Baltimore.

Casali's first home run of the season in the fifth inning was the only run allowed by either starting pitcher as Baltimore's Kevin Gausman and Tampa Bay's Blake Snell both turned in gems. The little-used catcher forced in a second RBI with a bases-loaded walk during a five-run explosion against Baltimore's bullpen in the eighth.

McCann is out of the lineup Sunday against the Twins.

McCann has started six consecutive games behind the dish for the Tigers. In that time, he's gone 4-for-23 (.174). He'll move to the bench for Sunday's season finale against Minnesota. McCann hit .253/.318/.415 over 106 games this season. With McCann out, Bryan Holaday will serve as Detroit's catcher.

Maldonado isn't in the lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Maldonado sat out two of the last three games but will return to the bench after Saturday's 0-for-3, two-strikeout outing. Maldonado played in 138 games this season, over which he hit .221/.276/.368. Juan Graterol is starting at catcher and hitting ninth with Maldonado out.

Diaz is not starting against the Nationals on Sunday.

The rookie is slumping his way into the offseason, getting four hits in his last 32 at-bats. Diaz's receiving skills continue to need work, but he remains the likely backup to starter Francisco Cervelli in 2018. Given Cervelli's penchant for landing on the disabled list, Diaz could see significant playing time next year.

Sanchez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jays.

The Yankees will give Sanchez the day off to ensure that he'll be ready to go for Tuesday's wild-card game against the Twins. Sanchez was dialed in for the month of September as he hit .303/.354/.528 over 22 games. Austin Romine will serve as the Yankees' backstop Sunday with Sanchez out.