Free-agent catcher James McCann and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a minor-league deal on Monday, a source tells FanSided's Robert Murray. McCann will provide the Braves with additional catching depth to start the 2025 season with Sean Murphy (rib) starting the year on the injured list with a fractured rib on his left side. Catching prospect Drake Baldwin is expected to start behind the dish early on, with Chadwick Tromp backing him up. The 34-year-old McCann will most likely begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett as the team's No. 3 option should anything happen to Baldwin or Tromp. The former second-rounder by the Detroit Tigers in 2011 out of the University of Arkansas is basically a backup at this point in his career after hitting .234/.279/.388 with eight home runs and 31 RBI in 233 trips to the plate over 65 games in 2024 with Baltimore. McCann hasn't played in over 100 games since 2021 with the Mets.

The Athletics optioned outfielder Esteury Ruiz, right-handers J.T. Ginn, Elvis Alvarado and Grant Holman and third baseman Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. Ruiz, 26, led all of baseball with 67 stolen bases in his first year with the Athletics after being acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he struggled in 2024 and was optioned to the minors. Ruiz finished last year with a .200/.270/.382 slash line, a .652 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI and only five steals in just 29 games played in Oakland. He still has plenty of speed, but he's fallen way down the team's outfield depth chart and will have to work his way back to the big leagues in 2025. Ginn, 25, lost out on a starting rotation spot in camp by posting an ugly 7.62 ERA and 1.85 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and eight walks in five Cactus League appearances. He'll provide rotation depth in Vegas to open the year.

The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey writes that Boston Red Sox left-hander Patrick Sandoval (elbow), who had a modified Tommy John surgery and internal-brace procedure a year ago, remains on track to return in the second half in 2025. Sandoval said he's steadily progressing in his rehab and is up to throwing from 90 feet and is doing three sets of 25 throws three times a week. He's set to increase his progression to four days a week in the next week or so as he builds up stamina toward bullpen sessions. The 28-year-old southpaw is still far from game action but is trending in the right direction after signing a two-year, $18.25 million deal with Boston over the winter. Because Sandoval won't pitch much in his first year in Beantown, he can pretty much be avoided in all single-year fantasy leagues to open the 2025 campaign.

The Boston Red Sox have yet to make any decision on a starter at second base in camp, but The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey writes that it seems like David Hamilton has a strong case for the starting job. Although Alex Cora said it's still an open competition among Hamilton, Vaughn Grissom and prospect Kristian Campbell, the skipper has spoken highly of Hamilton, particularly on defense. The 27-year-old's glove plays, but he also stole 33 bases in 98 games in 2024 and had 70 steals in 119 games in 2022 at Double-A. Campbell was initially seen as the front-runner, but he's a work in progress on defense and has gone 5-for-33 at the plate with 13 strikeouts. Hamilton has hit .250 with three doubles and two homers in spring training. Grissom is 6-for-32 (.188) with two doubles in 12 games and hasn't separated himself like Hamilton. Fantasy managers in AL-only and deep-mixed leagues could target Hamilton for his speed.

Athletics right-handed pitcher Noah Murdock was notified on Monday by manager Mark Kotsay that he made the team's Opening Day roster. The 2019 draft pick earned the spot based on his performance this spring according to Kotsay. The 6-foot-8 hurler allowed three earned runs on two hits and a 5:7 BB:K in seven-and-two-thirds innings of relief. The tall righty owns a solid 23.4 percent K% and 9.45 K/9 during his minor leaguecareer but also carries a high 13.3 percentBB%. Still, the A's could have been impressed by his extreme ground ball rate, posting a 59.7 percent rate betweenDouble-A and Triple-A last season, then registering a 75.0 percent GB% this spring. The 26-year-old will make his MLB debut once the season begins and is expected to fill a low-leverage role that won't be conducive to fantasy productivity. As such, Murdock will be off the fantasy radaruntil that changes.