The San Francisco Giants placed catcher Curt Casali on the paternity list on Tuesday and recalled catcher Jakson Reetz from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Casali will be away from the team for up to three games this week, meaning he's going to miss the remainder of the series in D.C. against the hosting Washington Nationals. The 35-year-old veteran backstop has been serving as the backup to catcher Patrick Bailey. For the next couple of days, Reetz will handle those duties in San Francisco. Casali doesn't really have any business being rostered in any fantasy leagues as long as he's the backup, as he's currently hitting .197 (12-for-61) in limited playing time with no homers, four RBI and seven runs scored.
The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent catcher Curt Casali to a minor-league deal on Friday. Casali comes to the Cubbies after being released by the Miami Marlins earlier this week. The 35-year-old veteran backstop will begin his 2024 campaign at Triple-A Iowa while serving as organizational catching depth behind big-leaguers Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya. The former 10th-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2011 out of Vanderbilt is nowhere near the fantasy radar right now. He hit .175/.290/.200 with no home runs and six RBI in just 40 big-league games with the Cincinnati Reds last year and has a career slash line of .200/.314/.380 with 47 homers and 154 RBI in 502 games over 10 seasons with four different organizations.
Curt Casali Agrees To Minor-League Deal With Marlins
Free-agent catcher Curt Casali agreed to a minor-league deal with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, according to sources. Casali's deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The 35-year-old veteran backstop will join Miami after hitting a meager .175/.290/.200 with no home runs, six RBI and eight runs scored in 40 games played for the Cincinnati Reds in 2023 as their backup. He could have more opportunity with the Fish this year, although he'll enter camp behind both Nick Fortes and Christian Bethancourt. Casali is well off the fantasy radar as a career .220/.314/.380 hitter with 47 long balls and 154 RBI in 502 games across 10 big-league seasons with the Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners.
The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent catcher Curt Casali to a one-year, $5 million contract on Thursday. The deal includes a mutual option for the 2024 season. In a corresponding move, veteran infielder Mike Moustakas was designated for assignment. Casali will return to the Reds after playing for them from 2018-2020, when he swung the bat well to the tune of a .260/.345/.440 slash line, 18 home runs, 56 RBI, 49 runs scored and two stolen bases in that three-year stretch of time. The 34-year-old is unlikely to return to that sort of offensive prominence this time around as the clear backup to starter Tyler Stephenson, but Casali could become intriguing if Stephenson misses more time with injury. Casali played in 57 games for the Giants and Mariners in 2022, hitting .203/.318/.331 with five home runs, 17 RBI and 20 runs scored.
Julio Rodriguez, Curt Casali Activated From The Injured List
The Seattle Mariners activated outfielder Julio Rodriguez (wrist) and catcher Curt Casali (oblique) from the injured list on Thursday. Jarred Kelenic was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, while Luis Torrens was designated for assignment in corresponding moves. Rodriguez spent close to the minimum on the injured list due to a wrist contusion. The 21-year-old slashed .271/.334/.482 with 18 home runs, 57 RBI, 55 runs, and 21 stolen bases in 96 games in 2022. Rodriguez is expected to return to the lineup on Friday against the Texas Rangers. Casali will serve as Seattle's top backup catcher to Cal Raleigh after slashing .231/325/.370 with four homers and 14 RBI across 41 games in 2022.
The Seattle Mariners are acquiring catcher Curt Casali (oblique) from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Michael Stryffeler, according to sources familiar with the situation. Casali has been on the injured list since the beginning of July with a right oblique strain, but he was set to begin a minor league rehab assignment for Triple-A Sacramento last week, so he's probably close to a return to the big leagues. The 33-year-old backstop was hitting just .231/.325/.370 with four home runs, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored in 108 at-bats for the Gigantes before his injury. In Seattle, he'll serve as catching depth behind Cal Raleigh. The M's also have Luis Torrens in the fold at the position.
Curt Casali Exits Monday's Game Early With Side Injury
San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali (oblique) exited Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a side injury. The 33-year-old appeared to have hurt his oblique. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before leaving. Casali is considered day-to-day and will be further evaluated after the game. The veteran catcher is slashing .231/.325/.370 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and 13 runs over 41 games in 2022. Casali Austin Wynns replaced Casali in Monday's game. Wynns would see an uptick in at-bats while Casali is sidelined but isn't on the fantasy radar after hitting .227 over 44 at-bats in 2022.
San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. On the year, Casali is hitting .233/.297/.400 with four home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored in 101 plate appearances over 32 games. Austin Wynns, who caught the previous three games before Thursday's game, will be back behind the dish and will hit ninth on Friday against Pirates right-hander Zach Thompson. The 31-year-old backstop has gone 5-for-15 (.333) in his first five games of the 2022 season. Wynns has just nine career home runs in 120 MLB games and will be a low-upside DFS deep-sleeper play on Friday.
San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali was placed on the 7-day concussion list on Saturday. He suffered a concussion after being hit by a foul tip on his mask during Friday's loss to the San Diego Padres. The Giants called purchased catcher Michael Papierski's contract from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Luke Williams was designated for assignment to make room for Papierski on the 40-man roster. Casali will miss at least seven days, and the Giants hope he will be available to return after missing the minimum.
Curt Casali Exits Thursday's Game With Lower Body Injury
San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali (lower body) suffered an injury while running the base paths in Thursday's game against the New York Mets. He was removed from the game and replaced by Chadwick Tromp. The injury is believed to be a lower body injury, but we don't know any specifics beyond that at this point. Buster Posey (knee) has been sidelined with right knee discomfort for the past few games. He is still being considered day-to-day. We'll see if either Posey or Casali are able to go on Friday. If not, Tromp will get the start behind the plate.
