MLB Player News

Amaya went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-1 defeat to the Dodgers in Tokyo.

The Cubs could muster only three hits against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and four relievers, and Amaya provided all the offense on a second-inning double. The catcher managed to carry over a strong spring performance into his 2025 debut, and while veteran Carson Kelly will see some playing time, Amaya could seize a larger role behind the plate if he gets off to a hot start.

The Pirates optioned Delay to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Delay was unable to win a place on the Opening Day roster after going 2-for-17 with eight strikeouts in 12 spring games. Joey Bart is poised to begin the season as Pittsburgh's No. 1 backstop, with Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez competing for the backup job.

Salazar was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini are locked in as Houston's top catchers, so it's no surprise Salazar will be opening the campaign at Triple-A. The 29-year-old had a .787 OPS in 12 regular-season games with the Astros last season and had a near-identical .788 mark in 78 contests for Sugar Land.

The Orioles reassigned Basallo to minor-league camp Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Basallo made a nice impression during big-league camp in clubbing a couple home runs. The 20-year-old top prospect will split time between catcher and first base with Triple-A Norfolk and could push to make his major-league debut later this season.

The Twins optioned Camargo to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Camargo was never going to make the Opening Day roster as long as both Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez were healthy. He'll provide catching depth at St. Paul.

Escarra has a "stranglehold" on the Yankees' backup catcher job behind starter Austin Wells, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Escarra has crushed the ball this spring, sporting a 1.032 OPS with three home runs in 14 Grapefruit League contests. The 29-year-old is on the 40-man roster but will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game. Ben Rice will also be on the Opening Day roster and is capable of catching, but he's likely to focus mostly on designated hitter duties.

Hedges started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's Cactus League game against Cincinnati.

The Guardians put out what looked like a normal regular-season lineup, except for Hedges. His main role is as a backup catcher, and he doesn't hit well enough to be a viable DH. At any rate, it was the second Cactus League home run for Hedges, who is batting .133 (11-for-30) with three extra-base hits and three RBI this spring.

Lee has gone 10-for-25 with four extra-base hits in Cactus League games.

Lee has a 49 wRC+ across 490 big-league plate appearances, so success across a small sample in relatively meaningless games isn't all that reassuring. However, he appears likely to enter the regular season as Chicago's primary catcher and his performance this spring could buy him some additional time over top prospects Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero.

McCann agreed to a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

McCann will catch on with Atlanta after he spent 2024 in Baltimore, batting .234 with eight home runs, 31 RBI, 27 runs scored and one stolen base over 233 plate appearances during the regular season. Drake Baldwin and Chadwick Tromp had been expected to open the season as Atlanta's catching tandem while Sean Murphy recovers from a fractured rib, but McCann could get one of the two spots if Atlanta prefers to have a backstop on the roster with more MLB experience.

Rice went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.

Rice has homered in back-to-back games as he continues to build his case for a spot on the club's Opening Day roster. He slotted in behind the dish Monday after serving as the designated hitter Sunday, putting his versatility on full display. Rice would likely get looks at first base, catcher and in the DH spot if he were to make the big-league club out of camp.