MLB Player News

Herrera will compete with Tucker Barnhart for the backup catcher job during spring training, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Arizona signed Barnhart last week and extended an invitation to big league camp. The prospect of Herrera opening a third consecutive season as the top backup seemed likely, but there now appears to be a competition on tap. Neither player has done much with a bat in hand, so it may come down to which one offers better defense and game-calling. The 32-year-old Barnhart has the edge in experience.

Huff is one of two catchers on the Rangers' 40-man roster, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Texas is short on catchers after Mitch Garver bolted for Seattle and Austin Hedges left for Cleveland. That leaves Jonah Heim as the starter with Huff the primary backup six weeks before spring training. Huff, who turns 26 next week, caught just three games in the majors and 58 at Triple-A Round Rock last season. The bat might play in the big leagues, but he lacks significant experience behind the dish. The Rangers will likely explore the backup catching market leading up to the spring training.

Brantly signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Monday.

The deal includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where Brantly will presumably get the chance to compete for the Rays' No. 2 catching gig heading into Opening Day. The 34-year-old journeyman backstop spent last season in the Toronto organization, slashing .271/.390/.361 over 177 plate appearances with Triple-A Buffalo before he was cut loose in July.

Nola signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 34-year-old was non-tendered by the Padres earlier this offseason after he managed a sickly .452 OPS across 52 games in 2023. The Brewers brought in Eric Haase last month to be William Contreras' backup, so Nola figures to begin 2024 at Triple-A Nashville.

The Cubs claimed Serven off waivers from the Rockies on Friday.

The Rockies dumped Serven from their 40-man roster in order to make room for Jacob Stallings, who signed with the club Friday. Serven managed to slash just .199/.241/.331 across 162 plate appearances with Colorado's Triple-A affiliate, and he'll almost certainly return to the minors to begin his tenure with the Cubs.

Stallings signed a one-year contract with the Rockies on Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins non-tendered Stallings earlier this offseason after he slashed just .210/.287/.290 over 660 plate appearances the last two years. In Colorado, Stallings projects as the likely backup catcher to Elias Diaz.

Sands cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Toledo.

Sands spent the vast majority of 2023 at Triple-A Toledo, and he'll now do so without the benefit of a 40-man roster spot. Should Jake Rogers or Carson Kelly struggle with the Tigers, Sands may reappear in Detroit, but for now he'll fill in as organizational depth.

The White Sox sent Perez outright to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

After being DFA'd off the 40-man roster Saturday, Perez will officially remain in the White Sox's minor-league system to begin 2024. Perez has slashed just .209/.254/.343 across 71 career MLB plate appearances, but Chicago's weak catcher room leaves a slim chance for Perez to contribute in the majors at some point in the summer.

Wynns cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

Wynns is no longer on the Reds' 40-man roster but will be in major-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The veteran catcher is likely to be assigned to Louisville at the outset of the 2024 campaign.

Plawecki signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Thursday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Plawecki spent time with three organizations in 2023, with San Diego being one of them. He didn't see any action at the major-league level last year, producing a .739 OPS with four homers in 67 games at the Triple-A level. The Padres appear set at catcher with Luis Campusano and Kyle Higashioka, pointing toward a ticket to Triple-A El Paso for Plawecki.