MLB Player News

Stallings was non-tendered by the Marlins on Friday, making him a free agent.

Stallings was a regular presence at catcher for Miami between 2022-23 and drew high praise for his defense, but he slashed just .210/.287/.290 over 660 plate appearances during that two-year stretch. The 33-year-old will probably have to accept a backup job somewhere for the 2024 season.

Nola was non-tendered by the Padres on Friday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Nola moves into free agency after slashing just .146/.260/.192 with one home run over 52 major-league games (154 plate appearances) for San Diego in 2023. The 33-year-old will try to latch on somewhere else this winter as a No. 2 or No. 3 option behind the plate.

Knizner became a free agent Friday after being non-tendered by the Cardinals.

Knizner had been projected to earn about $2 million in 2024 via salary arbitration and St. Louis deemed that too high of a price for a backup catcher. The 28-year-old has a career .216/.290/.331 slash line in 255 games at the major-league level, though he showed improvement at the plate in 2023.

Gallagher elected free agency Friday.

The Guardians DFA'd Gallagher on Monday after he put up an .322 OPS over 149 plate appearances, and the 30-year-old backstop will now look to latch on with another team. Given his performance in 2023 and underwhelming MLB track record, it's unlikely Gallagher will be offered more than a minor-league deal.

The Rays re-signed Jackson (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The deal presumably includes an invitation to spring training. Jackson hit four homers in 14 games with Triple-A Durham this season after being acquired from the Brewers but missed the last several weeks of the season with a right shoulder injury. If healthy, he gives the Rays an option to pair with Rene Pinto at catcher.

Gallagher was designated for assignment by the Guardians on Monday.

Gallagher somehow was given 149 plate appearances in 2023 even as he slashed an embarrassing .126/.154/.168. He'll go through the waiver process.

The Guardians claimed Bethancourt off waivers from the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bethancourt spent a large portion of the 2023 season as the Rays' No. 1 catcher and put up decent counting statistics over his 332 plate appearances (11 home runs, 49 runs, 33 RBI and one stolen base), but an ugly .225/.254/.381 slash line (74 wRC+) made his less useful at the plate from a real-life standpoint. Still, the 32-year-old graded out as a capable defender behind the dish and wasn't a complete zero with the bat, so he should at least make for a dependable backup option and short-side platoon mate in Cleveland for No. 1 backstop Bo Naylor.

The Tigers plan to exercise Kelly's $3.5 million team option for 2024, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

After getting released by Arizona in mid-August, Kelly caught on with the Tigers shortly thereafter on a prorated one-year, $720,000 deal that included the club option for 2024. Over 19 games with the Tigers, Kelly hit just .173 and got on base at a .271 clip, but the organization was evidently satisfied enough with how the 29-year-old handled the pitching staff and acquitted himself defensively to justify bringing him back for 2024. Kelly will likely head into Opening Day as the Tigers' No. 2 catcher behind Jake Rogers.

The Cubs exercised Gomes' $6 million club option for 2024 on Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Gomes has been a steady hand behind the plate for Chicago over the past two years, and he'll be back again for a third season. The 36-year-old had a .723 OPS last year in 116 games following the departure of Willson Contreras, and he'll likely open 2024 as the Cubs' top catcher.

The Rays placed Bethancourt on outright waivers Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bethancourt will join five teammates on the waiver wire in an effort from the Rays to clear space on the 40-man roster. The 32-year-old backstop slashed .225/.254/.381 across 332 plate appearances in 2023 and could be picked up by another team in search of a backup catcher.