MLB Player News

The Reds plan to have Mesoraco (hip, shoulder) back behind the plate next season.

Following a breakout campaign in 2014, Mesoraco has combined to play in just 39 games over the past two seasons as he's required significant surgery on both his hip and left shoulder. He is expected to be ready to resume catching duties in mid-to-late January and Mesoraco is still just 28, but there are doubts about his ability to hold up to the rigors of catching duties. Tucker Barnhart took over for Mesoraco in 2016 and filled in capably behind the dish, but did little of note with the bat.

Grandal is not in the lineup Thursday for the Dodgers' Game 5 NLCS tilt with the Cubs.

Grandal has acted as the primary catcher for Los Angeles during the postseason, but given his poor .111 batting line during the playoffs, the Dodgers will give him the night off. Carlos Ruiz will slot into the lineup behind the plate in his stead.

The Cardinals outrighted Rosario off its 40-man major-league club.

His destination isn't yet known, but Rosario was at best the fourth catcher on the extended September roster anyway.

The Cardinals have removed Ohlman from their 40-man major-league roster.

The announcement doesn't yet say where he'll wind up, but he's so far down on this depth chart that he'll need dominoes to fall before he contributes at the big-league level.

Contreras is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday against the Giants, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Contreras caught in Game 2 and went 2-for-3 in the process, but he'll cycle out of the lineup once again. The Cubs will go with their third different catcher in three games, as after David Ross was behind the plate in Game 1, Miguel Montero will get a turn in Monday's Game 3.

Manager John Farrell said Vazquez could start Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Indians, with Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez was included on the postseason roster chiefly for his defense and ability to throw out base runners. The erratic but talented Rodriguez posted a 4.50 ERA in 22 innings this year with Vazquez behind the plate, but he fanned 25 in that sample, so it could wind up as a positive pairing.

Casali went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, a run-scoring double and two walks in Sunday's season-ending 6-4 victory over the Rangers.

The backstop, filling the DH role Sunday, opened the scoring with a single that plated Richie Shaffer in the second and then closed things out with an insurance run in the 10th off a two-bagger that drove home Alexei Ramirez. After a mostly miserable campaign at the plate in terms of batting average, Casali closed out 2016 by hitting safely in six of his last eight games, with four multi-hit efforts, three doubles and five RBI over that span.

Gomes went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Royals.

After missing more than two months with a shoulder and knee injury, Gomes drilled a go-ahead homer in his first at-bat since July 17. It was one of the few highlights in an otherwise disappointing season for Gomes, who batted a lowly .167/.201/.327 with 69 strikeouts and just nine walks in 264 plate appearances. The 29-year-old's numbers have been trending down since 2013, making him a dicey fantasy option as he approaches his thirties.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a walk in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Reds.

Contreras helped keep the game close with his fourth-inning RBI single and eighth-inning solo homer, both of which trimmed Cincinnati's lead to one. Chicago then rallied for four runs in the ninth for its 103rd win of the year. Contreras played a key role in his team's success this year, slashing .282/.357/.488 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI in 283 plate appearances. The 24-year-old rookie excelled after his call-up in mid-June and should be locked in as the Cubs' starting backstop next year.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Gomes could be included on the club's ALDS roster, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

Gomes was activated from the DL on Friday after a lengthy absence due to a separated shoulder and fractured wrist. However, he's still not fully comfortable hitting just yet. The Indians included Gomes in the lineup behind the plate for their regular-season finale Sunday against the Royals, so that may serve as a testing ground to see what Gomes is capable of doing in the batter's box. If Gomes is included on the ALDS roster, the Indians would likely carry three catchers as a safeguard against another injury setback.