MLB Player News

Royals catcher Salvador Perez became the third Kansas City player to take home a Gold Glove Tuesday night in the American League, the Kansas City Star reports.

Perez beat out Matt Wieters of the Orioles and Joe Mauer of the Twins, both previous winners, to take home his first award. 

First baseman Eric Hosmer and left fielder Alex Gordon also won Gold Gloves for the Royals Tuesday. 

The finalists for the 2013 Rawlings Gold Glove awards were announced on Friday, with three players at each position. The awards honor the league's best defenders, and winners will be announced Oct. 29. 

The American League nominees are:

Catcher: Joe Mauer, Minnesota; Salvador Perez, Kansas City; Matt Wieters, Baltimore

First Base: Chris Davis, Baltimore; Eric Hosmer, Kansas City; James Loney, Tampa Bay

Second Base: Robinson Cano, New York, Dustin Pedroia, Boston, Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay

Third Base: Adrian Beltre, Texas; Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay; Manny Machado, Baltimore

Shortstop: Alcides Escobar, Kansas City; Yunel Escobar, Tampa Bay; J.J. Hardy, Baltimore

Left Field: Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland; Andy Dirks, Detroit; Alex Gordon, Kansas City

Center Field: Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City; Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston; Adam Jones, Baltimore

Right Field: Nick Markakis, Baltimore; Josh Reddick, Oakland; Shane Victorino, Boston

Pitcher: Mark Buehrle, Toronto; R.A. Dickey, Toronto; Doug Fister, Detroit

With catcher Brian McCann heading into free agency this offseason, the Braves face uncertainty at the catcher position for the first time in eight years. Manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated Wednesday that Evan Gattis, Gerald Laird and Christian Bethancourt are all in the mix for playing time behind the plate, MLB.com reports.

"Maybe not knowing what's going on, but you give Bethancourt a little chance and bring him along a little bit," Gonzalez told MLB.com. "Go with Gattis and Laird, and throw Bethancourt a bone every once in a while, put Gattis out in left field because we know that he can do it."

McCann played 92 games behind the plate in 2013, including 91 starts and 84 complete games. Gattis made 42 appearances and 38 starts at catcher while drawing 48 appearances (47 starts) in left field, as well as four appearances at first base. Laird was the only other Brave to draw playing time at catcher, making 40 appearances and 33 starts at the position.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit his 13th home run in Sunday's win over the White Sox.

Perez went 3 for 4 with a run and two RBI. He'll finish the season at .292/.323/.433. He hit third in Sunday's finale, and one would imagine his performance will see him hitting in the heart of next year's Royals lineup.

For the first time in his major league career, Salvador Perez is getting a start at first base, as Brett Hayes will fill in behind the plate for the Royals' season finale at the White Sox.

Prior to Sunday, all of Perez's 126 starts this season have been at catcher.

Blue Jays catcher Josh Thole recorded a four-hit night Wednesday during a loss at Baltimore. Thole went 4 for 5 in the game with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Thole doubled and drove in his eighth run of the season. He's batting just .179, though that is up from .150 after the four hits. Thole had just four hits in his previous eight games combined. 

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud went 0 for 2 with a walk in his return to the starting lineup Thursday against the Giants. He missed just one game after suffering a shoulder injury Tuesday.

The rookie backstop has hit .163/.236/.225 with one home runs and four RBI in 80 at-bats with the Mets. He's just 6 for 44 with no extra-base hits in September, and Thursday's walk was his first of the month.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is back in the team's starting lineup Thursday against the Giants.

d'Arnaud did not play Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game with a shoulder injury. He's hitting .167 in 78 at-bats. 

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud is out for Wednesday's game against San Francisco with a sore shoulder, ESPN New York reports. The catcher left Tuesday's game with the injury after one at-bat and should be considered day-to-day.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud was forced out of Tuesday's game against the Giants with a sore shoulder. He took a foul tip off the shoulder in the second innings and was replaced by Anthony Recker to start the third inning.

He is hitting .167/.233/.231 with one home run and four RBI in 78 at-bats.