MLB Player News

Manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Rice will be included on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Giancarlo Stanton's elbow issues created an opening at designated hitter, and Rice took advantage of the opportunity during spring training with five homers and an .848 OPS in 69 plate appearances. The 26-year-old is likely to see most of his action at designated hitter but could also get looks at first base and catcher.

The Mariners signed Raleigh to a six-year, $105 million contract extension Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal begins this season and buys out Raleigh's final years of arbitration eligibility as well as his first three years of free agency. Raleigh has become baseball's preeminent power bat at catcher, easily leading the position with 76 home runs over the past three seasons. The 28-year-old also captured his first Gold Glove in 2024.

The Royals reassigned O'Keefe to minor-league camp Tuesday.

O'Keefe was attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee but didn't make much of a push for a spot on the Opening Day roster with Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin both emerging from spring training fully healthy. He'll presumably report to Triple-A Omaha and serve as organizational catching depth for the second season in a row.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on the Talkin' Yanks podcast by Jomboy Media on Tuesday that Wells will be the team's leadoff hitter Opening Day versus Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta.

The revelation comes as no surprise, as Wells has batted at the top of the order consistently over the last few weeks in Grapefruit League play. Wells is likely to hit lower in the order or get days off against lefties, although No. 2 catcher J.C. Escarra and No. 3 catcher Ben Rice also bat left-handed.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that he's planning to start Herrera at catcher and bat him sixth Opening Day versus the Twins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The lineup the Cardinals are using in Monday's exhibition tilt against Triple-A Memphis -- one that features Herrera behind the plate -- is the same one Marmol is eyeing for the opener. Herrera has been in a competition with Pedro Pages for the St. Louis catcher job, and it appears Herrera will get the first crack at it. What the ultimate breakdown in playing time between the two catchers will be over the duration of the season isn't clear.

The Mariners optioned Hunt to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.

The Mariners are set at catcher between Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver, so Hunt will begin the season with Tacoma even though he went 10-for-20 with two homers this spring. The 26-year-old has not appeared in a game at the big-league level.

The Yankees re-signed Jackson to a minor-league contract Sunday.

Jackson opted out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees after being told he was not going to make the Opening Day roster, but he was quickly re-signed to a new minor-league pact. He will provide catching depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The White Sox released Narvaez on Monday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Chicago cut Narvaez loose after settling on Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss as its two catchers heading into Opening Day. Fegan relays that Narvaez could re-sign with the White Sox on a new minor-league deal, though with two high-end catching prospects in Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero set to open the season at Triple-A, it's unclear if the organization would even have regular playing time available for him in the minors.

The White Sox informed Thaiss on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Thaiss will likely open the season as the No. 2 catcher behind incumbent Korey Lee after posting an .892 OPS across 12 Cactus League games. Thaiss and Lee may not be ticketed for season-long stays on the active roster, however, as catching prospects Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero will open the campaign at Triple-A Charlotte but should be ready to make their MLB debuts at some point later in 2025.

The White Sox informed Narvaez on Monday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Chicago will begin the season with Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss as its two catchers. Narvaez, who had been attending camp as a non-roster invitee, will likely report to Triple-A Charlotte if the White Sox don't choose to release him. Narvaez is coming off a rough 2024 season in which he slashed just .154/.191/.185 over 69 plate appearances with the Mets before he was cut loose in June.