MLB Player News
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Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Cleared for Opening Day
Rogers cleared concussion protocol Monday and will be available for Opening Day, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Rogers suffered a concussion at some point down the stretch of spring training, but it won't impact his availability for the start of the 2026 season. "He's already caught a couple of bullpens today and hit in the cage," said manager A.J. Hinch on Monday. "I'm going to get him a couple of at-bats tonight. Tomorrow, he'll catch part of the game." The 30-year-old is in line to open his sixth major-league season as the backup catcher behind Dillon Dingler.
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Maverick Handley C | BAL
Orioles' Maverick Handley: Cut from big-league camp
The Orioles reassigned Handley to minor-league camp Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Handley logged 47 plate appearances in the majors in 2025 while the Orioles contended with multiple injuries at catcher, but the 28-year-old was never viewed as anything more than a stopgap option and was dropped from the 40-man roster over the winter. He'll remain part of the Orioles organization for the 2026 campaign, but he's likely to spend the entire season at Triple-A Norfolk unless Baltimore is down two of Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo and Sam Huff at any point.
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Matt Thaiss C | BOS
Red Sox's Matt Thaiss: Misses out on Opening Day roster
The Red Sox reassigned Thaiss to minor-league camp Monday.
Thaiss attending spring training as a non-roster invitee but didn't make much of a push for a backup catcher spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster after posting a .560 OPS over 27 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League. With Boston also optioning Mickey Gasper to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, the Red Sox will head into Opening Day with Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong as their two catchers. Thaiss' minor-league deal contains an upward mobility clause that would allow him to pursue opportunities elsewhere, but he intends to remain in the organization and report to Worcester to begin the season, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Returns to catching
Moreno started at catcher and went 3-for-4 with a double and two solo home runs in Sunday's spring game against the Padres.
Moreno was back behind the plate for the first time in two weeks. He dealt with forearm tightness for a stretch and returned to action last Thursday as the designated hitter. Now that Moreno is defending again, it looks like there will be no limitations for the catcher heading into Opening Day. He's batting .242 (6-for-33) with three homers and five RBI through 11 Cactus League contests. He and James McCann will split duties behind the plate, although Moreno could garner additional plate appearances as a DH when not behind the dish.
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Korey Lee C | CHW
White Sox's Korey Lee: Set to miss cut
Lee will not be a part of the Opening Day roster with the White Sox, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Lee is set to be the odd man out after Chicago signed Reese McGuire to a one-year deal Sunday. Lee is getting moved/released by the team in the near future according to manager Will Venable, per Jon Greenberg of The Athletic. Lee remains with the organization for the time being, and he's batting ninth in a spring game against the Mariners on Sunday night. To this point in spring training, he has produced a .297 average with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored and four stolen bases over 37 at-bats in 14 contests.
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Jhonny Pereda C | SEA
Mariners' Jhonny Pereda: Headed to Tacoma
Pereda was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.
Pereda was traded from the Twins to Seattle in January, and he was able to participate in spring training with the big-league club. The catcher batted .200 with a run scored and a stolen base over 25 at-bats in 15 contests. He'll now head to Tacoma ahead of the 2026 campaign.
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Reese McGuire C | CHW
White Sox's Reese McGuire: Lands with White Sox
McGuire agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract Sunday.
The 31-year-old exercised his release clause Saturday after missing out on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, and it didn't take him long to land with a new club. McGuire should serve as a veteran backup catcher to Edgar Quero with Kyle Teel (hamstring) beginning the year on the injured list.
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Brett Sullivan C | COL
Rockies' Brett Sullivan: Will be part of Opening Day roster
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer announced Sunday that Sullivan has secured a spot on the Opening Day roster, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Sullivan beat out Braxton Fulford for the Rockies' backup catcher gig during spring training. The Rockies are expected to formally select Sullivan's contract Friday, when the team sets its final roster ahead of the season opener in Miami. Sullivan split time between the Padres and Pirates organizations in 2025, seeing action in only three games in the majors while slashing .207/.264/.325 with four home runs and six stolen bases across 295 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. He's expected to play sparingly behind top backstop Hunter Goodman.
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Braxton Fulford C | COL
Rockies' Braxton Fulford: Sent to Triple-A
The Rockies optioned Fulford to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Fulford had a .591 OPS in 38 games with the Rockies last season but was unable to win the backup catcher job during spring training. The 27-year-old could get called up by the Rockies if Hunter Goodman or Brett Sullivan suffer an injury.
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J.C. Escarra C | NYY
Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Slated for No. 2 catcher role
Escarra is expected to serve as New York's backup catcher behind Austin Wells this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Escarra got his first taste of big-league action last season and posted a .202/.296/.33 slash line with two homers, 11 RBI, one stolen base and an 11:14 BB:K over 98 plate appearances. Both he and Wells bat left-handed, so Escarra's opportunities to play will likely come exclusively when Wells needs a rest day. Ben Rice, who's slated to be the team's primary first baseman, also has experience behind the plate and saw action at that position in 36 contests last year, though it's unclear how often (if at all) the Yankees will use him as a catcher this year.