Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini (hip) has been sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Astros. Caratini has been sidelined since June 20 with a left hip-flexor strain. It's unclear if Caratini will only need a few rehab games in the Florida Complex League this week or if he'll eventually move his rehab assignment to a higher minor-league affiliate. Either way, the 30-year-old veteran backstop could be back with the Astros' big-league squad early in the second half of the season after this week's All-Star break. When healthy, he'll return to being a backup catching option for Yainer Diaz, leaving him very little fantasy appeal. In his first 105 at-bats in 2024, Caratini hit .248/.287/.429 with four home runs, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored in 39 games in his first year with the team.
Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini (hip) started running and throwing while rehabbing in Houston, manager Joe Espada said on Sunday. Caratini is set to join the team during its series in Minnesota on July 5-7, when he'll continue his rehab, a step that could include batting practice on the field. The veteran backstop suffered a left-hip flexor strain sliding into home plate on June 20 in Chicago and was facing around a four-week recovery period. That timetable puts his return around the All-Star break, but likely after. The 30-year-old was slashing .248/.287/.429 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 115 plate appearances this year before getting hurt. As long as starting catcher Yainer Diaz remains healthy for the Astros, Caratini will be an afterthought in most fantasy leagues.
Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini (quadriceps) is getting his left-quadriceps injury looked at by team doctors on Thursday. Manager Joe Espada said Caratini was "pretty sore" on Thursday morning and termed it a potential injured-list situation, but the Astros will wait on the test results before making a decision on their backup catcher. Caratini was pulled from Wednesday's contest against the Chicago White Sox early with the injury and could have to miss the next 10 days. If Caratini is forced to miss additional time with his quad injury, Cesar Salazar and Cooper Hummel would be in line to serve in backup duties to Yainer Diaz. Caratini is not much of a fantasy option, even in two-catcher leagues, with limited playing time and a .248/.287/.429 slash line with four homers in 105 at-bats this year.
Victor Caratini Hits Pinch-Hit, Walk-Off Homer Tuesday
Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini played the hero in Tuesday's 9-8 extra-innings win over the Guardians. Caratini came into the game to pinch-hit in the bottom of the 10th inning with the game tied, two outs, and a runner on third. He lined a fastball just over the right-center wall to end the game. The 30-year-old has hit well in limited playing time, slashing .314/.368/.571 with two HR and eight RBI in 38 plate appearances. He will likely need to get more frequent at-bats before he can provide meaningful fantasy value in deeper two-catcher leagues.
Astros Reportedly Sign Victor Caratini To Two-Year Deal
The Houston Astros reportedly signed free-agent catcher Victor Caratini to a two-year, $12 million deal Tuesday, per MLB's Theo DeRosa. The team has not confirmed the deal. The Astros needed a backup catcher to Yainer Diaz with Martin Maldonado also a free agent and will seemingly turn to the 30-year-old Caratini. Caratini served as the backup catcher for the Brewers in 2023, slashing .259/.327/.383 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 226 plate appearances. While the lineup change will benefit Caratini, it likely will not be enough to make him fantasy-relevant except perhaps in the deepest of two-catcher leagues.
The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired catcher Victor Caratini in a trade with the San Diego Padres. In exchange, the Padres received outfield prospect Korry Howell and minor league catcher Brett Sullivan. The Brewers also received cash considerations in the deal. The trade comes just a day after Brewers catcher Pedro Severino received an 80-game suspension for PED violations. Severino had been slated to be the team's backup catcher, but now Caratini will fill his role, serving as a backup to Omar Narvaez.
San Diego Padres catcher Victor Caratini isn't in the starting lineup for the first game of the team's doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. The 27-year-old is hitting .222 with a .320 on-base percentage, six home runs and a pair of stolen bases in 241 plate appearances this season. Webster Rivas is starting at catcher instead against Atlanta left-handed starter Kyle Muller. Rivas, who is also batting eighth, has logged 65 plate appearances for the Padres this season. In those 65 plate appearances, he's hitting .228 with a .313 on-base percentage and two home runs. If you're looking for streaming help behind the plate in either daily fantasy play or in season-long formats, you're probably better off looking elsewhere.
San Diego Padres catcher Victor Caratini isn't in the team's lineup on Saturday for a game against the Washington Nationals and left-handed starter Patrick Corbin. Caratini is batting .224 this season with a .318 on-base percentage, six home runs and a pair of stolen bases in 233 plate appearances. Webster Rivas is starting in Caratini's place against Corbin. If you need a streaming option at catcher in daily fantasy play or in season-long formats, you might have better luck looking elsewhere. Rivas is hitting just .212 with a .305 on-base percentage this year while also adding a pair of home runs in 60 plate appearances.
San Diego Padres catcher Victor Caratini (thumb) is out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. Caratini took a foul tip off his thumb on Thursday and was removed from the game eventually, but X-rays came back negative and fantasy managers should consider the backstop day-to-day. Caratini isn't an offensive force but has had some big moments for the Friars while holding down the fort with Austin Nola (knee) injured. The 27-year-old switch-hitter is batting .221/.317/.347 with six home runs and 29 RBI on the year in 190 at-bats. Webster Rivas will catch rookie Reiss Knehr on Friday and hit eighth against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. Rivas does have two homers in just 46 at-bats this year, but those in DFS can find better low-cost options at the position.
San Diego Padres catcher Victor Caratini (thumb) took a foul tip to his thumb in the 9-8 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Caratini attempted to play through the pain but was eventually removed from the contest in the sixth inning. X-rays came back negative, but he should be considered day-to-day. Don't be surprised if the Friars rest him on Friday in the series-opener against the Colorado Rockies. The 27-year-old switch-hitter singled and struck out in his two at-bats before being removed on Thursday and is now hitting .221/.317/.347 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 221 plate appearances. He's done a great job for the Padres in the absence of Austin Nola but is more of a second backstop in two-catcher leagues, and he'll lose some playing when Nola returns.
