Free-agent catcher Chad Wallach has signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels that includes an invite to big-league spring training. The 31-year-old saw the most playing time of his career with the Halos last season due to the long-term shoulder injury suffered by catcher Logan O'Hoppe. Wallach struggled at the plate, however, hitting just .197 with seven home runs and a .635 OPS across a career-high 65 appearances and 172 trips to the plate. He has seen big-league action each season since 2017 but has largely scuffled at the dish as he is a career .198 hitter with 11 HR and a .591 OPS across 443 plate appearances. The club has also signed free-agent backstop Francisco Mejia this offseason and has O'Hoppe and Matt Thaiss leading the way on the catching depth chart.

Los Angeles Angels catcher Chad Wallach (neck) was placed on the seven-day injured list Tuesday with a concussion, according to Jeff Fletcher of the SoCal News Group. The 31-year-old was dealing with a stiff neck on Sunday, but the injury was classified as a concussion. Wallach is batting .267 with two homers across 10 games this season. He's been backing up Matt Thaiss ever since fellow backstop Logan O'Hoppe went down with an ailment. This news doesn't affect many fantasy leagues, and fantasy managers should assume catcher Chris Okey will become the new backup in L.A.

The Los Angeles Angels re-signed catcher Chad Wallach to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Wallach entered free agency when he refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake, but he will return to the Angels organization next year. The 31-year-old backstop played in just 12 games for the Halos in 2022, going 5-for-35 (.143) with a homer, four RBI and three runs scored. In six big-league seasons with the Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins, Wallach has hit just .198/.265/.296 with four home runs, 24 RBI and 17 runs scored in 271 plate appearances over 90 games played. He'll be looking to win a spot on the major-league roster out of spring training in 2023.

Catcher Chad Wallach was claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins by the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Keibert Ruiz traded to the Nationals as part of the Max Scherzer-Trea Turner deal, the Dodgers were in need of some catching depth for their Triple-A club. Wallach was designated for assignment by the Marlins last week and is a career .207/.271/.303 hitter at the big league level. He'll slot in behind Will Smith and Austin Barnes on the Dodgers depth chart.

NEW YORK (AP) — Manuel Margot hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Tyler Glasnow overcame cramps and poor control to pitch five innings of one-run ball and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 6-3 Saturday and dropped New York to an AL-worst 5-9. New York lost its seventh straight series to the Rays is last this late in the season for the first time since 1991, per Elias Sports. Fans in the Bronx again booed the Bombers, but they were more restrained a day after some hurled baseballs and other items on the field late in an 8-2 loss to the Rays. Francisco Mejía hit a solo shot in the second off Jordan Montgomery (1-1), and Margot made it 3-1 with his homer off the left-hander in the fourth. Joey Wendle added a two-run shot against Jonathan Loaisiga in the seventh, and Mejía had an RBI double in the ninth. Glasnow (2-0) walked four but also struck out seven and limited New York to two hits as the Rays (7-8) won their second straight in the series. DODGERS 2, PADRES 0 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Mookie Betts... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Manuel Margot hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Tyler Glasnow overcame cramps and poor control to pitch five innings of one-run ball and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 6-3 Saturday and dropped New York to an AL-worst 5-9. New York lost its seventh straight series to the Rays is last this late in the season for the first time since 1991, per Elias Sports. Fans in the Bronx again booed the Bombers, but they were more restrained a day after some hurled baseballs and other items on the field late in an 8-2 loss to the Rays. Francisco Mejía hit a solo shot in the second off Jordan Montgomery (1-1), and Margot made it 3-1 with his homer off the left-hander in the fourth. Joey Wendle added a two-run shot against Jonathan Loaisiga in the seventh, and Mejía had an RBI double in the ninth. Glasnow (2-0) walked four but also struck out seven and limited New York to two hits as the Rays (7-8) won their second straight in the series. METS 4, ROCKIES 3, 1ST GAME ROCKIES 7, METS 2,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Manuel Margot hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Tyler Glasnow overcame cramps and poor control to pitch five innings of one-run ball and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 6-3 Saturday and dropped New York to an AL-worst 5-9. New York lost its seventh straight series to the Rays is last this late in the season for the first time since 1991, per Elias Sports. Fans in the Bronx again booed the Bombers, but they were more restrained a day after some hurled baseballs and other items on the field late in an 8-2 loss to the Rays. Francisco Mejía hit a solo shot in the second off Jordan Montgomery (1-1), and Margot made it 3-1 with his homer off the left-hander in the fourth. Joey Wendle added a two-run shot against Jonathan Loaisiga in the seventh, and Mejía had an RBI double in the ninth. Glasnow (2-0) walked four but also struck out seven and limited New York to two hits as the Rays (7-8) won their second straight in the series. METS 4, ROCKIES 3, 1ST GAME ROCKIES 7, METS 2,... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins agreed to contract terms with all of their arbitration-eligible players, including third baseman Brian Anderson for $3.8 million. Miami also announced deals Friday with catcher Jorge Alfaro ($2.05 million) and three relievers — Yimi García ($1.9 million), Richard Bleier ($1,425,000) and Adam Cimber ($925,000). In addition, Miami signed 11 players from four countries, including 18-year-old Cuban infielder Yiddi Cappe, during Major League Baseball's international signing period. Cappe is widely regarded as one of baseball's top 10 international prospects. Anderson led the Marlins last year with 11 homers and 38 RBIs and is considered part of their long-terms plan. He has been remarkably consistent, with an average of .255 to .273 in each of his four major league seasons. He earned $227,778 prorated of a $615,000 salary. Alfaro batted .226 with three home runs last year and lost his starting job in the postseason to Chad Wallach, who is better defensively. He... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins agreed to contract terms with all of their arbitration-eligible players, including third baseman Brian Anderson. Miami also announced deals Friday with catcher Jorge Alfaro and three relievers — Yimi Garcia, Richard Bleier and Adam Cimber. In addition, Miami signed 11 players from four countries, including 18-year-old Cuban infielder Yiddi Cappe, during Major League Baseball's international signing period. Cappe is widely regarded as one of baseball's top 10 international prospects. Anderson led the Marlins last year with 11 homers and 38 RBIs and is considered part of their long-terms plan. He has been remarkably consistent, with an average of .255 to .273 in each of his four major league seasons. Alfaro batted .226 with three home runs last year and lost his starting job in the postseason to Chad Wallach, who is better defensively. Garcia allowed only one run in 15 innings with 19 strikeouts last year, and he’s considered a potential closer in 2021. Bleier had a 2.16 ERA in 21 games last year for the Marlins and Orioles. Cimber had a 3.97 ERA in 14 games for the Indians, and Miami acquired him in a trade in November for $100,000. Cappe is a 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds and has played shortstop in national competition in Cuba since he was 16. The Marlins also signed players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tim Anderson hit two of Chicago’s five solo homers, and the White Sox — already guaranteed a playoff spot — took another step toward the AL Central title by overpowering the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Saturday night. Chicago has won eight of its last 10 games, securing at least a wild card and its first postseason appearance since 2008. José Abreu hit his fifth homer in eight games as the White Sox piled them up, including three in a row in the eighth off Robert Stephenson. Abreu has 18 homers overall. The Reds managed six hits as they had their season-high winning streak snapped at six games. Cincinnati (26-27) wasted a chance to move above .500 for the first time since its season-opening win over the Tigers. Nomar Mazara was in a 3-for-25 slump with 11 strikeouts when he connected off Trevor Bauer (4-4) in the fifth inning for his first homer. One out later, Anderson’s ninth homer made it 2-0. Bauer went seven innings and gave up five hits while throwing 107 pitches. Matt... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi pitched five shutout innings and struck out seven, and the Miami Marlins stumbled in their playoff run with a 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. Rafael Devers had a three-run homer, Kevin Plawecki hit a two-run single and Alex Verdugo had three hits for the Red Sox. Seeking its first postseason appearance since winning the 2003 World Series, Miami is second in the NL East . The Marlins fell three games behind division-leading Atlanta, which was idle. Eovaldi (3-2) didn't allow a hit until Garrett Cooper's leadoff double in the fifth. Miguel Rojas singled but Eovaldi struck out Jazz Chisholm and Chad Wallach, then retired Corey Dickerson on a groundout. A 30-year-old right-hander who was with the Marlins from 2012-14, Eovaldi was lifted after 76 pitches in his second appearance since returning Sept. 12 a stint on the injured list caused by a strained right calf. Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless eighth, and Matt Barnes got three straight out for his eighth... [More]

Phillies first. Andrew McCutchen homers to center field. Bryce Harper lines out to center field to Starling Marte. Alec Bohm pops out to shallow center field to Isan Diaz. Didi Gregorius grounds out to shallow infield, Jazz Chisholm to Garrett Cooper.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 0.Marlins second. Matt Joyce singles to right field. Garrett Cooper grounds out to shallow infield, Vince Velasquez to Phil Gosselin. Matt Joyce to second. Jazz Chisholm singles to center field. Matt Joyce scores. Miguel Rojas walks. Isan Diaz grounds out to shallow infield, Vince Velasquez to Phil Gosselin. Miguel Rojas to second. Jazz Chisholm to third. Chad Wallach strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 1.Marlins third. Corey Dickerson doubles to left field. Starling Marte singles to right field. Corey Dickerson to third. Jesus Aguilar doubles to third base. Starling Marte scores. Corey Dickerson scores. Matt Joyce strikes out swinging. Garrett Cooper... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Braxton Garrett allowed three hits over five innings to win his major league debut, and the Miami Marlins beat the Phillies 8-1 to complete doubleheader sweep and leapfrog Philadelphia for second place in the NL East.Rookie Sixto Sánchez pitched a three-hitter over seven innings to win the opener 2-1, his first complete game in five major league starts.Garrett, a 23-year-old left-hander, was recalled as Miami’s 29th man. Garrett (1-0) allowed one run, struck out six and walked two, giving up a second-inning homer to Alex Bohm, who is 10 for 20 in the series.Starling Marte had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Jesús Aguilar had two hits and two RBIs.Miami (23-21) has won four of the first six-games against the Phillies (23-22) in the major leagues’ first seven-game, regular-season series since 1967. The teams play again Monday.Zach Eflin (2-2) allowed four runs, eight hits and two walks in four-plus innings for the Phillies, who have lost five of seven.Aguilar, Matt... [More]

Marlins first. Corey Dickerson walks. Starling Marte singles to shallow infield. Corey Dickerson to second. Jesus Aguilar singles to right field. Starling Marte to third. Corey Dickerson scores. Matt Joyce singles to left field. Jesus Aguilar to second. Starling Marte scores. Brian Anderson singles to right field. Matt Joyce to third. Jesus Aguilar scores. Garrett Cooper strikes out swinging. Brian Anderson out at second. Jazz Chisholm grounds out to shallow infield, Didi Gregorius to Phil Gosselin.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 3, Phillies 0.Phillies second. Alec Bohm homers to center field. Didi Gregorius singles to right field. Phil Gosselin walks. Didi Gregorius to second. Kyle Garlick reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Phil Gosselin to second. Didi Gregorius out at third. Andrew Knapp strikes out on a foul tip. Ronald Torreyes grounds out to shallow infield, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Marlins 3, Phillies 1.Marlins third.... [More]

Phillies third. Alec Bohm grounds out to shallow infield, Miguel Rojas to Jesus Aguilar. Adam Haseley doubles to deep center field. Andrew McCutchen homers. Adam Haseley scores. Rhys Hoskins singles to shortstop. Bryce Harper flies out to left center field to Corey Dickerson. J.T. Realmuto hit by pitch. Rhys Hoskins to second. Jean Segura doubles to deep left field. J.T. Realmuto scores. Rhys Hoskins scores. Didi Gregorius flies out to deep right field to Matt Joyce.4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Phillies 4, Marlins 0.Phillies fourth. Phil Gosselin reaches on error. Throwing error by Brian Anderson. Alec Bohm singles to center field. Phil Gosselin to third. Adam Haseley singles to right field. Alec Bohm to second. Phil Gosselin scores. Andrew McCutchen singles to deep center field. Adam Haseley to third. Alec Bohm scores. Rhys Hoskins homers to left field. Andrew McCutchen scores. Adam Haseley scores. Bryce Harper pops out to shallow infield to Chad Wallach. J.T. Realmuto strikes... [More]

Rays first. Joey Wendle homers to right field. Ji-Man Choi lines out to deep right center field to Lewis Brinson. Yandy Diaz hit by pitch. Yoshi Tsutsugo homers to right field. Yandy Diaz scores. Willy Adames singles to center field. Brian O'Grady strikes out swinging. Hunter Renfroe flies out to left field to Corey Dickerson.3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Marlins 0.Rays fourth. Willy Adames flies out to deep left center field to Corey Dickerson. Brian O'Grady singles to center field. Hunter Renfroe reaches on error. Brian O'Grady to third. Throwing error by Jonathan Villar. Kevin Kiermaier walks. Kevan Smith reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Kevin Kiermaier scores. Hunter Renfroe out at third. Brian O'Grady scores. Throwing error by Brian Anderson. Joey Wendle grounds out to shortstop, Brian Anderson to Garrett Cooper.2 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 left on. Rays 5, Marlins 0.Marlins fourth. Jon Berti grounds out to third base, Yandy Diaz to Ji-Man Choi. Corey Dickerson... [More]

Phillies second. Didi Gregorius homers to right field. Scott Kingery walks. Phil Gosselin walks. Scott Kingery to second. Roman Quinn pops out to shallow infield to Brian Anderson. Andrew McCutchen flies out to Corey Dickerson. Rhys Hoskins walks. Phil Gosselin to second. Scott Kingery to third. Bryce Harper called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 left on. Phillies 1, Marlins 0.Marlins fifth. Harold Ramirez grounds out to shallow infield, Zack Wheeler to Rhys Hoskins. Brian Anderson walks. Garrett Cooper singles to right field. Brian Anderson to second. Miguel Rojas singles to shallow center field. Garrett Cooper to second. Brian Anderson scores. Chad Wallach grounds out to shallow infield. Miguel Rojas out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 1, Phillies 1.Phillies sixth. Jean Segura grounds out to shortstop, Brian Anderson to Garrett Cooper. Didi Gregorius strikes out on a foul tip. Scott Kingery walks. Phil Gosselin homers to left field. Scott Kingery scores.... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Francisco Cervelli says he’s fully recovered from his latest concussion, and Jorge Alfaro says he’s feeling fitter after a winter spent working on the farm and running sprints.At catcher, at least, the Miami Marlins appear in good shape.Alfaro, who returns as the starter, reported for spring training this week 15 pounds lighter thanks to an active offseason regimen that included time on his dad's small farm in Colombia.Cervelli signed a $2 million, one-year contract last month after missing much of 2019 with a concussion that limited him to 48 games for the Pirates and Braves. The 12-year veteran has a long history of concussions, but said he's now fully healthy and anticipates a bounce-back season as more than just a backup.“That word,” he said, “is not in my bag.”Alfaro also wants to play a lot — even more than the 130 games he logged last year. That's why he spent the offseason improving his fitness.He helped his dad by herding cattle and harvesting yuca roots. He... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen to give the San Diego Padres a thrilling 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.Renfroe drove an 0-1 pitch into a balcony on the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner. He dropped his bat and raised his arms before beginning his trot.The Padres, who avoided a three-game sweep, started the winning rally with three straight singles off Jansen (2-1), who was trying for his third save in three games. Eric Hosmer hit a leadoff single to left and Manuel Margot and Wil Myers followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Jansen struck out Greg Garcia and got rookie Francisco Mejia to pop up before Renfroe's slam.Adam Warren (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.CUBS 13, CARDINALS 5CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant hit his fourth career grand slam in Chicago's six-run eighth inning and the Cubs pounded St. Louis for their season-high seventh consecutive victory.Willson... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen to give the San Diego Padres a thrilling 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.Renfroe drove an 0-1 pitch into a balcony on the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner. He dropped his bat and raised his arms before beginning his trot.The Padres, who avoided a three-game sweep, started the winning rally with three straight singles off Jansen (2-1), who was trying for his third save in three games. Eric Hosmer hit a leadoff single to left and Manuel Margot and Wil Myers followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Jansen struck out Greg Garcia and got rookie Francisco Mejia to pop up before Renfroe's slam.Adam Warren (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.CUBS 13, CARDINALS 5CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant hit his fourth career grand slam in Chicago's six-run eighth inning and the Cubs pounded St. Louis for their season-high seventh consecutive victory.Willson... [More]