MLB Player News

Higashioka was optioned to the Yankees' minor-league camp Wednesday, Brendan Kuty of the Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Higashioka was third on the depth chart at catcher during spring training, but the Yankees always planned on proceeding with only two backstops heading into Opening Day. That will allow Higashioka to see regular at-bats with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he slugged 10 homers in just 160 plate appearances in 2016 upon being promoted from Double-A Trenton midseason.

Maile was optioned to minor-league camp Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Maile, Curt Casali and Mike McKenry were all sent packing from big-league spring training, leaving Jesus Sucre as the No. 2 option behind Derek Norris to begin the 2017 campaign. The 26-year-old Maile fared well during Grapefruit League play (13-for-35) and he could get the call if there is an injury behind the plate while the Rays are still without Wilson Ramos (knee).

Casali was optioned to minor-league camp Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With both Casali and Luke Maile optioned and Mike McKenry reassigned Wednesday, non-roster invitee Jesus Sucre is now locked in as the backup to Derek Norris to begin the season. Casali went 6-for-31 (.186 average) during spring training after batting .186/.273/.336 over 256 plate appearances last season.

Manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that he is "learning toward" batting Sanchez second in the order, the Associated Press reports.

Most of Girardi's spring lineups have had Sanchez in the three-hole behind Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury, but the skipper offered a new look Tuesday. Wanting to break up Gardner and Ellsbury (both lefties), Girardi slotted Sanchez into the No. 2 spot followed by Greg Bird, Matt Holliday and Ellsbury, and he suggested he will stick with that order on Opening Day. Sanchez went 15-for-44 with four homers and 13 RBI in his first 16 spring games.

Plawecki was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.

Plawecki had a respectable showing over 13 Grapefruit League games. While he went 7-for-26 (.269) with a home run, he also struck out eight times. As long as Travis d'Arnaud and Rene Rivera stay healthy, Plawecki will likely remain at the Triple-A level for most of the upcoming season.

Leon went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Monday's game against the Orioles.

Leon, a switch-hitter, homered from both sides of the plate during Boston's nine-run fourth inning. These were his first extra-base hits of the spring. The 28-year-old catcher was cool at the plate to start the spring, but has heated up with more plate appearances, hitting in five of his last six games (7-for-19). Leon will open the season as Boston's starting catcher, but backup Christian Vazquez should grab at least two games a week.

Stewart (groin) caught off a pitching machine Monday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Bill Brink reports.

Stewart has been dealing with left groin discomfort since Friday. However, an MRI came back negative Saturday, and this step in his rehab process may keep him on track to be available for Opening Day. That said, Francisco Cervelli is expected to claim the vast majority of the catching duties this season. The 35-year-old Stewart said he felt fine after catching the machine, but did not really test himself, so his status will remain uncertain until he does.

Vazquez hit a three-run homer and made several key defensive plays in Sunday's game against the Twins.

In addition to his seventh-inning homer, Vazquez picked off a runner at second base, caught a runner attempting to steal third and applied a nice tag on a play at the plate. This is the kind of virtuoso defensive performance the Red Sox have been dreaming of since they elevated the catcher to the majors in 2015. His ability to control the running game may eventually make him the lead catcher. Sandy Leon is the starter heading into the season, but make no mistake: Vazquez will catch two out of every five games at a minimum.

Heineman was traded by the Astros to the Brewers on Sunday for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The catcher had been sent down to Houston's minor league camp on March 19, and the minors is where he will report when he joins the Brewers. Heineman didn't do much in big league camp with the Astros this spring, recording just one hit in 11 at-bats, and will likely open the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Maldonado has been mired in a 4-for-39 slump this spring.

The veteran backstop is known for his defensive abilities, not his offensive prowess, so the lack of production shouldn't be a huge surprise here. Still, Maldonado is trying to carve out a role in the Angels' lineup out of camp. He and fellow catcher Carlos Perez have failed to stay above the Mendoza line this spring. This is one of the least interesting catcher battles from a fantasy perspective, and a timeshare behind the dish is a definite possibility.