MLB Player News

MLB.com reports Thursday that catcher/infielder Yan Gomes told Barry Larkin, manager of the Brazilian National team that he would not participate in the World Baseball Classic, instead he'll focus on his chance at a roster spot with the Indians. Gomes, who participated in the World Baseball Classic qualifying round, spoke to his teammates on the national team to reveal his decision. "I didn't want to be blind-sided by it," Gomes said. "I wanted to really reach out and talk to them. I talked to a few of them and got really good feedback, which helped me out. I appreciated that."

MLB.com reports Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal took batting practice for the first time since the 2012 season ended on Tuesday. He dealt with two inflamed tendons on the middle finger of his left hand during the offseason, which hindered him from swinging the bat. The switch-hitter was able to hit from both sides of the plate. "We wanted to figure out if it hurt or not ... and it didn't," Grandal said. "Now we've got to work on the swing and get it game ready. And hopefully I'll get in some games this spring."

After becoming the youngest member of the Giants' World Series roster, catcher Hector Sanchez wants to continue his progression this season. The 23-year-old, considered a favorite of the pitching staff, played in 74 games last season as the primary backup to Buster Posey. "You have to show something better every year. Nothing's assured in baseball," said Sanchez, who is entering his second full MLB season. "What is certain is that you have to work hard every day and it's their decision. I just want to make that decision easy for them and be here every day."

U-T San Diego reports Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, who isn't eligible to make his season debut until May 28 because of a 50-game suspension, isn't expected to start swinging a bat until late February because of a hand injury that plagued him at the end of the 2012 season. Grandal did not swing a bat this offseason after he finished last season with two inflamed tendons on the middle finger of his left hand. Grandal said he played the last month of the season with the injury. “It didn’t hurt to catch because the ball would hit the finger straight on,” Grandal said. "But when I rolled my finger to either side, it hurt. I was OK hitting from the right side of the plate. But from the left side, I was swinging one-handed. I had a little celebration every time I saw the other team had a left-handed starter. So my main focus this offseason was catching, which was good because I needed to work on my catching more than my hitting. In a weird way, the injury probably helped me because I was forced to concentrate on one thing, catching.”

Hoping to clear the air following his suspension for a positive drug test, San Diego catcher Yasmani Grandal addressed his teammates Saturday prior to the team's first full-squad workout of the spring. Grandal was banned last November for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He is eligible to return May 28 at Seattle. "I have taken full responsibility for my actions and apologized to my teammates," he said in a statement. "I plan to put that mistake behind me, serve my suspension and continue working hard to be the best player and teammate I can be."

MLB.com reports Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco spent the offseason studying tape of his rookie season in attempt to improve on a disappointing campaign. "I watched beginning of the year, middle of the year and end of the year -- a good amount of each to see where I needed to improve," Mesoraco said. "Offensively, (video scouting manager Rob Coughlin) sent me certain swings of mine and I requested some other hitters throughout the league to see what makes them successful. I will try to morph that into my game a little bit." Mesoraco struggled adjusting to playing sparingly last season and it's a similar situation he could face in 2013 with Ryan Hanigan still in the mix. "Sometimes you've got to go backwards," manager Dusty Baker said of Mesoraco's 2012 season. "We're not really sure what will happen this year, either. He's a heck of a talent. But he's very young. Most guys don't come out of high school and catch. Buster Posey came out of college. That's four years where he had more experience."

Chris Stewart heads into spring training expected to split time behind the plate with Francisco Cervelli for the Yankees in 2013. Stewart, a career .217 hitter, told The Star-Ledger Sunday that he looks forward to competing for more playing time, knowing his defensive prowess gives him an advantage. “I’m not going to say it doesn’t really matter what I do at the plate,” Stewart said. “I’m trying to be the best hitter I can be. But if I’m doing the job behind the plate, then I know my goal behind the plate is being taken care of. Everything else is extra.”

MLB.com reports Braves catcher prospect Christian Bethancourt, who was limited to half a season at Double-A Mississippi in 2012 because of a fractured left hand, could be in line to make the major-league roster in 2014. "I think if he would have been able to complete the full season there, I think it would've made a world of difference for him," Braves assistant general manager and director of player development Bruce Manno said of Bethancourt. "He's fine [health-wise], he went and played winter ball in the Dominican and was able to kind of make up some at-bats, so that helped quite a bit with the time he missed. He's a player who we really, we really like his defensive ability, and offensively we think he's going to continue to improve. We have to see where he is in his development in the spring before we decide what's going to happen to him [level-wise], because we just don't know without the full sample of a season last year."

Toronto avoided arbitration with catcher Josh Thole on Friday, signing the backstop to a two-year contract with an option for a third year.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told WFAN on Thursday that for catcher Travis d'Arnaud to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, he would have to win the catcher's job. “I just don’t want to rule anything out,” Alderson said, in a transcript provided by the Daily News. “But at the same time, I don’t want to create false expectations for our fans or put pressure on Travis."