MESA, Ariz. (AP) — When spring training opened, one of Oakland's biggest questions was its catching situation following the departure of Jonathan Lucroy. The Athletics had Josh Phegley on the roster and signed Chris Herrmann to a one-year deal in December. It's a good thing they added Nick Hundley, too.Herrmann had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this past week. That leaves Phegley and Hundley behind the plate."No one knew what direction they were going to go," said Phegley, who is entering his fifth year with the A's. "We're all good options."The 35-year-old Hundley agreed to a minor league deal with Oakland last month. He spent the previous two seasons with San Francisco, batting .241 with 10 homers in 96 games last year.Hundley isn't taking anything for granted. He has an opt out in his contract that Oakland has to decide on by Thursday. That's also the day the Athletics leave for Japan, where they will open the regular season on March 20 against the Mariners."They haven't told... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Danny Farquhar took the mound in a game again. That was more than enough on Saturday.Farquhar's spring training appearance for the New York Yankees was his first game since the 32-year-old reliever collapsed in the Chicago White Sox dugout on April 20 because of a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage. The right-hander got one out and was charged with five runs in an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates."I felt great out there," Farquhar said. "I was happy to be back on the mound. Obviously, the results weren't great but I call it a good day. I felt like a baseball player, again."Farquhar allowed three hits and walked two while throwing 19 pitches in the fourth inning. He is in camp with the Yankees on a minor league deal."The fact that he's on the mound and gotten to this point is pretty awesome," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I found myself a little more emotional than I even thought. Even though it didn't go great, I think he really appreciated how special... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — When catching prospect Joey Bart arrived in the San Francisco Giants' camp, he wanted to get over any nervousness about being around veterans such as Madison Bumgarner, so he made a point of introducing himself to the pitcher.The second overall pick in last year's amateur draft had no idea he'd be catching Bumgarner's first bullpen session Wednesday."I was walking in to catch and he was like, 'Let's go on No. 1,'" Bart said. "I was like, 'All right, here we go.'"Bumgarner hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 2018. The left-hander didn't make his season debut until June 5 after breaking the pinkie of his pitching hand when hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Whit Merrifield late in spring training. Bumgarner went 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 starts."You can tell he came in ready," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It was a really good bullpen for him. It's good for the kid to catch him, too. First bullpen and he's catching your No. 1 guy. That's probably... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — When catching prospect Joey Bart arrived in the San Francisco Giants' camp, he wanted to get over any nervousness about being around veterans such as Madison Bumgarner so he made a point of introducing himself to the pitcher.The second overall pick in last year's amateur draft had no idea he'd be catching Bumgarner's first bullpen session on Wednesday."I was walking in to catch and he was like, 'Let's go on No. 1,'" Bart said. "I was like, 'All right, here we go.'"Bumgarner's hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 2018. The left-hander didn't make his season debut until June 5 after breaking the pinkie of his pitching hand when hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Whit Merrifield late in spring training. Bumgarner went 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 starts."You can tell he came in ready," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It was a really good bullpen for him. It's good for the kid to catch him, too. First bullpen and he's catching your No. 1 guy. That's... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin Turner homered on Zack Greinke's first pitch of the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Friday night.Los Angeles began the day two games behind Arizona in the NL West and 2 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.The Dodgers also announced they had acquired third baseman David Freese from the Pirates in exchange for minor league infielder Jesus Manuel Valdez.Kenley Jansen worked the ninth for his 33rd save. Paul Goldschmidt doubled with one out, but Jansen struck out David Peralta and retired Eduardo Escobar on a grounder to shortstop.Enrique Hernandez also homered for Los Angeles, and Dylan Floro (5-3) got the win.Goldschmidt hit his 31st homer for Arizona, and Greinke (13-9) gave up six hits in 7 1/3 innings.WHITE SOX 6, RED SOX 1CHICAGO (AP) — Yoan Moncada and Matt Davidson homered for Chicago, and prized prospect Michael Kopech combined with three relievers on a five-hitter.Major league-leading Boston had won three in... [More]

Garcia, 22, was promoted to High-A San Jose after slashing .273/.350/.467 with 15 home runs in 363 plate appearances at Low-A.

He is not in an ideal organization to profile for regular at-bats at catcher anytime in the foreseeable future with Buster Posey and Andrew Susac around. However, from a pure talent standpoint, Garcia is a top-200 fantasy prospect and one of the better hitting catchers to watch in dynasty leagues.