Catcher Kevin Plawecki announced his retirement from professional baseball on his personal social media on Saturday. He was then hired by the San Diego Padres as a player development coach, according to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized. The 33-year-old spent most of his big league career with the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. Through 449 career big league games, the backstop posted a .235/.315/.341 line with 22 home runs. Plawecki spent all of last season with Triple-A El Paso and posted a solid .260/.340/.443 line with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, and a 32:43 BB:K ratio. Plawecki will continue to work in the Padres organization but now on the coaching side of the game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent catcher Kevin Plawecki to a minor-league deal on Saturday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Pitchers and catchers will report to camp on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Plawecki played for the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers in 2022, hitting a combined .220/.286/.286 with a .572 OPS, only one home runs, 13 RBI and 15 runs scored in 186 plate appearances and 63 games played. The 31-year-old will have a real shot to early a major-league roster spot as a backup catcher behind Austin Hedges to begin the regular season. Endy Rodriguez is the only other catcher on the Pirates' 40-man roster. Plawecki isn't much of a fantasy option, slashing .235/.313/.341 with a .654 OPS, 22 home runs and 137 RBI in eight major-league seasons.

The Boston Red Sox designated catcher Kevin Plawecki for assignment on Friday, according to a source. Plawecki got the start on Friday night against the Kansas City Royals and went 0-for-2 before being replaced. He saw more playing time in Boston when the team traded Christian Vazquez to the Houston Astros last month, but Plawecki has hit just .217/.287/.287 on the year with one home run, 12 RBI and 15 runs scored in his 157 at-bats. Because of the 31-year-old's poor results this year, catchers Connor Wong and Reese McGuire have earned more run behind the dish for the Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox placed catcher Kevin Plawecki on the COVID-19 list on Monday. Connor Wong will be recalled from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. It's unclear if Plawecki tested positive or was a close contact. Until Plawecki can clear the league's protocols, Wong will serve as the backup to Christian Vazquez behind the plate. Plawecki has struggled this season, slashing .156/.267/.221 with a home run, five RBI, eight runs, and 10 walks across 31 games in 2022.

Boston Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki tested positive for COVID-19 and is being placed on the league's COVID-19 list. Connor Wong will be recalled from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. Until Plawecki can clear the league's protocols, Wong will serve as the backup to Christian Vazquez behind the plate. Plawecki has one hit and an RBI in his first 12 plate appearances of the season over four games, striking out four times and walking once. Wong, 25, made his major league debut last year and played in six games, going 4-for-13 with an RBI, three runs scored, one walk and seven strikeouts in 14 plate appearances.

Boston Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki (foot) got the start behind the plate against the New York Yankees Saturday in place of Christian Vazquez and was one of the only bright spots for Boston, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. He was lifted for a pinch-runner after being plunked by Aroldis Chapman. Plawecki has posted a .748 OPS in 152 at-bats, gradually earning a larger share of the playing time behind the plate, but it's not enough to make him a consideration for fantasy rosters.

Boston Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki started behind the plate and batted seventh against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Plawecki has been very productive of late, especially in the on-base department, slashing .347/.413/.431 over his last 30 games and 72 at-bats. While starter Christian Vazquez is expected to be activated from the bereavement list Saturday or Sunday, Plawecki has earned his way into the lineup, and could become a factor in two-catcher leagues if he becomes the regular starter.

Boston Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki got the start behind the plate against the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday, batting sixth in the order. He went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, three RBI, and a run scored. With Christian Vazquez struggling mightily this season, Plawecki has slowly received more playing time. While it would not be accurate to say that Plawecki has overtaken Vazquez, he's clearly been the better performer at the dish with a .353/.421/.456 slash line over his last 30 games and 68 at-bats. Still, he's not currently a consideration for fantasy unless he becomes the locked-in starter at catcher.

Boston Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki started both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in the first game, and 3-for-3 with a run scored in the second game. Plawecki has had some success in limited at-bats this season, recording a .764 OPS with one home run. He'll stay well off the fantasy radar as long as starter Christian Vazquez stays healthy.

BOSTON (AP) — Held hitless into the eighth inning by Domingo Germán and looking feeble, Alex Verdugo and the Boston Red Sox suddenly erupted for five runs and stormed past the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday. Verdugo opened the eighth with a long double for Boston’s first hit. Later, Kiké Hernández slid home headfirst on Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly with the go-ahead run to cap the rally. The Red Sox won for the 10th time in 13 games against the Yankees and reclaimed first place in the AL East, a game ahead of Tampa Bay. New York fell nine games behind Boston. Boston trailed 4-0 when Verdugo doubled to deep right, and Germán was lifted after the hit. Jonathan Loaisiga (7-4) relieved, and Boston broke loose with four straight hits. Hunter Renfroe had an RBI double, Christian Vázquez singled home a run and Hernández followed with an RBI double, cutting it to 4-3. Zack Britton relieved and pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki’s groundout plated the tying run. Hernández hustled hard and beat right fielder... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Held hitless into the eighth inning by Domingo Germán and looking feeble, Alex Verdugo and the Boston Red Sox suddenly erupted for five runs and stormed past the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday. Verdugo opened the eighth with a long double for Boston’s first hit. Later, Kiké Hernández slid home headfirst on Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly with the go-ahead run to cap the rally. The Red Sox won for the 10th time in 13 games against the Yankees and reclaimed first place in the AL East, a game ahead of Tampa Bay. New York fell nine games behind Boston. Boston trailed 4-0 when Verdugo doubled to deep right, and Germán was lifted after the hit. Jonathan Loaisiga (7-4) relieved, and Boston broke loose with four straight hits. Hunter Renfroe had an RBI double, Christian Vázquez singled home a run and Hernández followed with an RBI double, cutting it to 4-3. Zack Britton relieved and pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki’s groundout plated the tying run. Hernández hustled hard and beat right fielder... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows drove in his third run on a tiebreaking RBI infield single during a two-run eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 14th time in 15 games, 5-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Randy Arozarena had a leadoff single in the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sam Coonrod (0-2). After Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked with one out, Meadows made it 4-3 with his hit off José Alvarado. Tampa Bay took a two-run lead when Alvarado walked pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau with the bases load. Diego Castillo (1-3) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth for the Rays, who have won three in a row after Kansas City stopped their 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth to get his second save. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler gave up three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out a career-high 14 over seven innings. Matt Joyce homered for the Phillies, who struck out 15 times. Tampa Bay struck out... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows drove in his third run on a tiebreaking RBI infield single during a two-run eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 14th time in 15 games, 5-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Randy Arozarena had a leadoff single in the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sam Coonrod (0-2). After Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked with one out, Meadows made it 4-3 with his hit off José Alvarado. Tampa Bay took a two-run lead when Alvarado walked pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau with the bases load. Diego Castillo (1-3) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth for the Rays, who have won three in a row after Kansas City stopped their 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth to get his second save. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler gave up three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out a career-high 14 over seven innings. Matt Joyce homered for the Phillies, who struck out 15 times. Tampa Bay struck out... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows drove in his third run on a tiebreaking RBI infield single during a two-run eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 14th time in 15 games, 5-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Randy Arozarena had a leadoff single in the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sam Coonrod (0-2). After Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked with one out, Meadows made it 4-3 with his hit off José Alvarado. Tampa Bay took a two-run lead when Alvarado walked pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau with the bases load. Diego Castillo (1-3) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth for the Rays, who have won three in a row after Kansas City stopped their 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth to get his second save. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler gave up three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out a career-high 14 over seven innings. Matt Joyce homered for the Phillies, who struck out 15 times. Tampa Bay struck out... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows drove in his third run on a tiebreaking RBI infield single during a two-run eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 14th time in 15 games, 5-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Randy Arozarena had a leadoff single in the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sam Coonrod (0-2). After Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked with one out, Meadows made it 4-3 with his hit off José Alvarado. Tampa Bay took a two-run lead when Alvarado walked pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau with the bases load. Diego Castillo (1-3) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth for the Rays, who have won three in a row after Kansas City stopped their 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth to get his second save. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler gave up three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out a career-high 14 over seven innings. Matt Joyce homered for the Phillies, who struck out 15 times. Tampa Bay struck out... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows drove in his third run on a tiebreaking RBI infield single during a two-run eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 14th time in 15 games, 5-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Randy Arozarena had a leadoff single in the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sam Coonrod (0-2). After Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked with one out, Meadows made it 4-3 with his hit off José Alvarado. Tampa Bay took a two-run lead when Alvarado walked pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau with the bases load. Diego Castillo (1-3) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth for the Rays, who have won three in a row after Kansas City stopped their 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth to get his second save. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler gave up three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out a career-high 14 over seven innings. Matt Joyce homered for the Phillies, who struck out 15 times. Tampa Bay struck out... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows drove in his third run on a tiebreaking RBI infield single during a two-run eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 14th time in 15 games, 5-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Randy Arozarena had a leadoff single in the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sam Coonrod (0-2). After Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked with one out, Meadows made it 4-3 with his hit off José Alvarado. Tampa Bay took a two-run lead when Alvarado walked pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau with the bases load. Diego Castillo (1-3) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth for the Rays, who have won three in a row after Kansas City stopped their 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth to get his second save. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler gave up three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out a career-high 14 over seven innings. Matt Joyce homered for the Phillies, who struck out 15 times. Tampa Bay struck out... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Austin Meadows drove in his third run on a tiebreaking RBI infield single during a two-run eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won for the 14th time in 15 games, 5-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Randy Arozarena had a leadoff single in the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sam Coonrod (0-2). After Yandy Díaz was intentionally walked with one out, Meadows made it 4-3 with his hit off José Alvarado. Tampa Bay took a two-run lead when Alvarado walked pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau with the bases load. Diego Castillo (1-3) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth for the Rays, who have won three in a row after Kansas City stopped their 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. J.P. Feyereisen worked the ninth to get his second save. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler gave up three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out a career-high 14 over seven innings. Matt Joyce homered for the Phillies, who struck out 15 times. Tampa Bay struck out... [More]

Jay Bruce returned to the major leagues Saturday, making the New York Yankees' roster at the deadline for decisions on free agents who had gone to spring training with minor league contracts. Atlanta added third baseman Pablo Sandoval, infielder Ehire Adrianza and reliever Nate Jones to its major league roster. The Chicago Cubs told infielder Eric Sogard he will be added. Detroit, having already told pitcher Julio Teheran he will be on the roster, informed pitcher Derek Holland he will be added and decided to pay a $100,000 retention bonus to keep pitcher Erasmo Ramirez. Under baseball's collective bargaining agreement, players who became free agents after the World Series and then went to spring training with minor league contracts had to be told by noon EDT Saturday that they would be added to the 40-man roster, paid the retention bonus or released. Released players can re-sign with the same team. Miami paid the retention bonus to catcher Sandy Leon, the only other player given the bonus.... [More]

Jay Bruce returned to the major leagues Saturday, making the New York Yankees' roster at the deadline for decisions on free agents who had gone to spring training with minor league contracts. Atlanta added third baseman Pablo Sandoval, infielder Ehire Adrianza and reliever Nate Jones to its major league roster. The Chicago Cubs told infielder Eric Sogard he will be added. Detroit, having already told pitcher Julio Teheran he will be on the roster, informed pitcher Derek Holland he will be added and decided to pay a $100,000 retention bonus to keep pitcher Erasmo Ramirez. Under baseball's collective bargaining agreement, players who became free agents after the World Series and then went to spring training with minor league contracts had to be told by noon EDT Saturday that they would be added to the 40-man roster, paid the retention bonus or released. Released players can re-sign with the same team. Miami paid the retention bonus to catcher Sandy Leon, the only other player given the bonus.... [More]