Ellis has retired from baseball and will join San Diego's front office, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Ellis has called it quits after spending 11 seasons in the big leagues. He spent the majority of his time with the Dodgers (nine years) but also made stops in Philadelphia, Miami and San Diego. Ellis finishes his career with a .239/.378/.344 slash line, 44 home runs and 229 RBI over 672 games.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Playing time will be scarce
Rotowire
Ellis' playing time will take a hit following the promotion of catching prospect Francisco Mejia, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.
The Padres are going to split starts behind the dish between Austin Hedges and Mejia -- who homered twice Thursday -- pushing Ellis to third on the catching depth chart. The veteran backstop has been serviceable when called upon this season (.291/.389/.369 in 56 games), but the Padres understandably want to give their younger options playing time over the final month with nothing left to play for.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Reaches base four times
Rotowire
Ellis went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Saturday's 5-3 loss to San Francisco.
Ellis delivered his first three-hit performance of the season and now owns a healthy .337/.426/.430 over 31 games. The 37-year-old has been solid in a timeshare with Raffy Lopez while Austin Hedges (elbow) has been sidelined, but the latter is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to Sunday's series finale against the Giants. Ellis' career-best batting average and lengthy major-league experience should allow him to stick on the roster, but his playing time will likely take a significant hit following Hedges' return.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Smacks first homer
Rotowire
Ellis went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the 2018 season in Saturday's win over the Dodgers.
Ellis got the nod behind the dish against the left-handed Alex Wood. The veteran backstop's big day at the plate upped his season line to .315/.406/.444 in 65 plate appearances. Ellis has been on the short side of a platoon with Raffy Lopez, but the latter is scuffling at the plate, so the 37-year-old could start to see more starts until Austin Hedges (concussion) returns from the disabled list.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Starts Wednesday
Rotowire
Ellis started and went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Giants.
Ellis got the start Wednesday after the recently recalled Raffy Lopez started Tuesday's contest. It appears that the two backstops will split starting duties while Austin Hedges (elbow) mends on the disabled list. The 37-year-old is slashing .214/.343/.214 in 36 plate appearances this year.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Collects two hits in loss
Rotowire
Ellis started behind the dish and went 2-for-4 in Sunday's 14-2 loss to the Mets.
It was the veteran's first multi-hit performance in 29 plate appearances this season. Austin Hedges is the clear-cut starter in San Diego, limiting Ellis to starts on traditional rest days for catchers.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Added to Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Ellis is starting at catcher and hitting eighth Monday night against the Rockies, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Ellis was a late addition to the lineup after Austin Hedges was scratched with back discomfort. This will mark the first start of the season for Ellis, who hit .210/.298/.371 over 51 games for the Marlins in 2017.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Contract purchased by Padres
Rotowire
Ellis had his contract purchased by the Padres on Wednesday.
With Austin Hedges locked in as the Padres' primary backstop, Ellis and Raffy Lopez will split duties as the backup. The veteran is better known as a defensive catcher, hitting no better than .238 in any of his previous five seasons, and his limited opportunities will leave him off the fantasy radar.
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Padres' A.J. Ellis: Likely in line for backup role
Rotowire
Ellis is expected to make the Padres' Opening Day roster as a backup catcher, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Since Ellis is attending spring training as a non-roster invitee, the Padres would need to clear a spot for him on the 40-man roster, but that shouldn't prove difficult with Alex Dickerson (elbow) and Allen Cordoba (severe concussion) both looking like candidates for the 60-day disabled list. With Austin Hedges locked in as the Padres' primary backstop, Ellis likely wouldn't receive more than a couple starts most weeks and would offer nearly all his value on the defensive end after batting no better than .238 in any of his past five seasons in the big leagues.
Ellis signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
With Austin Hedges locked in as the team's starter behind the dish, Ellis will compete with Rocky Gale and Raffy Lopez for the backup gig. While the 36-year-old is easily the most experienced catcher of the bunch, he's coming off a season during which he hit a lowly .210/.298/.371 in 51 games for the Marlins.
Ellis went 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run home run, three RBI and two runs during Wednesday's loss to Colorado.
Ellis has played sparingly this season and owns a pedestrian .203/.290/.370 slash line for the campaign. His big outing Wednesday doesn't change his status as a desperation fantasy option in the majority of settings.
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Marlins' A.J. Ellis: Pops third homer Tuesday
Rotowire
Ellis went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Giants.
It's his third homer in 33 games on the year, as playing time has been very hard to come by for Ellis behind starting catcher J.T. Realmuto. Barring an injury to Realmuto, don't expect that arrangement to change down the stretch.
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Marlins' A.J. Ellis: Will hit second Sunday
Rotowire
Ellis will start at catcher and bat second Sunday against the Reds, Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald reports.
The Marlins have a vacancy in the two hole with Giancarlo Stanton receiving a rare day off, so Ellis will fill the void for what will likely be a one-time basis. Ellis has shown the ability to draw a walk throughout his career, but he won't be much of a run producer when he's in the lineup.
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Marlins' A.J. Ellis: Swats second homer Sunday
Rotowire
Ellis got the start behind the plate Sunday and went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored.
Playing time has been hard to come by for the veteran backstop as he works behind J.T. Realmuto -- Ellis has just two homers and five RBI over 87 plate appearances on the season. Even if he does find his way into more action, his .656 OPS means he'll carry very limited fantasy appeal.
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Marlins' A.J. Ellis: Remains in backup role
Rotowire
Ellis has only 13 hits and two RBI in 65 at-bats as the Marlins' backup catcher this season.
The veteran backstop has started only 16 games this season with J.T. Realmuto healthy and playing well. Ellis has zero extra-base hits this season and is utilized primarily when Realmuto needs an off day. The 36-year-old is ineffective at the plate and sees too little playing time to warrant fantasy consideration.
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Marlins' A.J. Ellis: Stuck behind much younger starter
Rotowire
Ellis is batting .213 this with no extra-base hits and two RBI in 55 at-bats this season as the backup catcher in Miami.
Ellis is having trouble getting on the field this season, stuck behind the much younger and more durable starter JT Realmuto. As the backup catcher, Ellis is even having trouble finding a spot as a pinch hitter, only playing that role twice this season. All in all, it appears age has caught up to Ellis, and an increase in playing time doesn't appear to be in the cards anytime soon for the 36-year-old backstopper.
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Marlins' A.J. Ellis: Role as backup unlikely to change
Rotowire
Ellis has managed only five hits in 37 at-bats so far this season.
The 36-year-old tends to start day games that follow a night game, and with J.T. Realmuto putting together another good season, it's unlikely we'll see a change behind the plate for the Marlins. Ellis is slashing .135/.220/.135 with one RBI, and he has been utilized as a pinch hitter only twice this year.
