Cardinals re-sign backup catcher Jason LaRue - MLB

Jason LaRue and the Cardinals have agreed to a one-year deal that will keep him backing up Yadier Molina in 2010.
Molina is one of the best, most durable catchers in baseball, so barring a major injury LaRue’s role will again be extremely limited. He appeared in just 51 games this season, logging a grand total 112 plate appearances and 254 innings, and worked just slightly more in 2008.
LaRue is 35 years old and hasn’t cracked a .700 OPS since 2005, batting just .194/.286/.323 during that time, so he’s among the worst hitters in baseball. But so are most backup catchers.
His strong arm behind the plate is an asset, but most of all the Cardinals apparently just like having him (and his tremendous facial hair) around and know that if Molina were to be sidelined for a significant chunk of time they’d probably swing a trade or turn to prospect Bryan Anderson anyway.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson and Tommy Kahnle appear set to rejoin the New York Yankees ahead of their series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots, saying that infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero had been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook after a 1-0 loss at Seattle.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton potentially returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.