#catcher-depth

#catcher-depth

It may not feel or smell like it yet, but spring is just around the corner. Spring training will begin for the Toronto Blue Jays in two weeks, with pitchers and catchers due to report to Dunedin, Fla., on Feb. 11 ahead of the club's first official workout at the player development complex on Feb. 16. Later that week, the organization will open exhibition play versus the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 21, beginning its Grapefruit League title defence.

Wallach, 34, has spent most of the past four years in the Angels' organization. He has been the third or fourth catcher on the depth chart. The Halos called him up last September while they were navigating injuries to Travis d'Arnaud and Logan O'Hoppe. Wallach played in one game and caught two innings in a loss in Seattle. The Angels outrighted him off the roster when O'Hoppe returned.

The Giants are in agreement with catcher on a minor league contract, reports Jon Morosi of The MLB Network. The Warner Sports Management client would lock in a $1.6MM base salary if he breaks camp and can opt out at the end of Spring Training if he's not on the MLB roster.

But aside from a hip injury in 2021, Kirk has been healthy throughout his career. Their backup catcher, Tyler Heineman, also had a short stint on the injured list because of a concussion. His numbers dipped once reaching the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, slashing just .207/.295/.370 with three home runs in 105 plate appearances, but Valenzuela is better known for his defence, throwing out just over a third of would-be stealers last season.

Sullivan is a depth option behind the plate. He has appeared in the big leagues in each of the past three seasons. He made it into 33 games for the Padres in 2023 but has been limited to 10 combined appearances in the last two years. The 31-year-old (32 in February) has hit .204 with a .250 on-base percentage and two home runs in 112 career plate appearances.

Tyler Heineman is projected to earn a salary of $1 million in 2026, and considering how well he played last season, he could represent the easiest decision of the offseason. 1 more Blue Jay could be on non-tender chopping block after three others have left Daulton Varsho, Eric Lauer, and Ernie Clement are "no-brainer" picks to be retained at higher salaries next season, and Heineman should be nearly as easy a call for the front office.

The Padres selected Martín Maldonado back onto the 40-man roster on Tuesday morning. That was required to carry him as the backup catcher for their Wild Card Series against the Cubs. Reliever , who is out for the season with a quad injury, was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Maldonado was in the organization on a minor league deal after being released from the MLB roster in August.

Keibert Ruiz is currently on the concussion IL. His last game was July 5th and he still hasn't begun a rehab assignment. Just over a week ago, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com provided an update on Ruiz. He had begun doing some first base drills, not for a positional switch, but just to get him on the field and tracking baseballs without putting him at any real risk of exacerbating his situation.