MLB Player News

The Yankees traded Higashioka to San Diego on Wednesday alongside Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Higashioka slashed .236/.274/.413 with 10 homers and 34 RBI across 260 plate appearances last season -- his best season at the plate since 2020. However, with Luis Campusano virtually locked in as San Diego's main backstop, the 33-year-old Higashioka will have to compete with Brett Sullivan for a backup role.

Caratini signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Astros on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Caratini spent two seasons as Milwaukee's backup catcher, and he seems primed to take on the same role behind Yainer Diaz in Houston. The switch-hitting Caratini slashed .259/.327/.383 with seven homers and 25 RBI across 226 plate appearances last season, and his reputation as an excellent framer should help him earn occasional starts behind the dish.

The Mets claimed Heineman off waivers from the Blue Jays on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Heineman is a career .218/.297/.282 hitter over parts of four big-league seasons. With Francisco Alvarez and Omar Narvaez back in 2024, the 32-year-old Heineman would appear pegged for Triple-A Syracuse to begin next season.

The Mariners acquired Zavala from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday along with Carlos Vargas in exchange for Eugenio Suarez, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Zavala was a waiver claim by the Diamondbacks in September but made just four starts during his three and a half weeks with the team. The 30-year-old catcher has a career .622 OPS over parts of four major-league seasons spent mostly with the White Sox. He could open 2024 as Cal Raleigh's backup.

Atlanta re-signed Tromp to a minor-league contract Wednesday.

Tromp was non-tendered by Atlanta last week but will return to the organization. The 28-year-old catcher has put up a .640 OPS with five home runs over 102 plate appearances at the major-league level. He'll likely begin 2024 at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Stubbs avoided arbitration Friday with the Phillies on a one-year contract.

Stubbs slashed just .204/.274/.283 over 41 regular-season games in 2023 and drew only one postseason plate appearance, but the backup catcher figures to return to that role behind J.T. Realmuto in 2024.

Tromp was non-tendered by Atlanta on Friday, MLB.com reports.

With Sean Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud already on the depth chart, Atlanta doesn't need to carry a third catcher on the 40-man roster during the offseason. Tromp has a 31:1 K:BB in 102 MLB plate appearances and was below league average (84 wRC+) at Triple-A last season as a 28-year-old.

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.