There are conflicting reports about Ryan Doumit’s future as a catcher

The Braves acquired Ryan Doumit in a trade with the Twins last month, expecting him to contribute mostly off the bench as a pinch-hitter. Doumit had suffered a concussion in August. While he made a few starts behind the dish upon his return in mid-August, he contributed only as a pinch-hitter, DH, and occasional outfielder in September.

Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press spoke to Brian Dozier, a former teammate of Doumit’s, who said that Doumit is “not catching anymore”. However, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is refuting that report:

#Braves GM Wren hasn’t talked to Ryan Doumit about ex-Twins teammate comment to Twins writer that Doumit has decided not to catch anymore…

— David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) January 26, 2014

…after Doumit difficulities following Aug. concussion. #Braves traded for Doumit to be backup C/1B/corner OF. Wren no comment at this time — David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) January 26, 2014

#Twins GM Terry Ryan said Doumit was available to catch in Sept and that nothing was every communicated about any reluctance to do so. — David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) January 26, 2014

At least 1 other Twins writer spoke to Doumit’s agent a week before trade to #Braves and was told Doumit was still interested in catching.

— David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) January 26, 2014

Even if Doumit didn’t want to catch, it wouldn’t have been a huge blow to the Braves. It would simply mean that the Braves wouldn’t be able to pinch-hit with Evan Gattis or Gerald Laird without risking entering an emergency situation without a back-up catcher.

Last season, Doumit posted a .710 OPS in 538 trips to the plate with the Twins. He turns 33 years old on April 2. The Braves will be paying him $3.5 million in the last of a two-year deal originally signed with the Twins in June 2012.

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Bad news for the Cubs’ Yu Darvish: The right-hander is headed back to the disabled list with right triceps tendinitis, the team announced Saturday. It’s the second such assignment for Darvish this season, but the first time he’s been sidelined with arm issues. Neither the severity of his injury nor a concrete timeframe for his recovery has been revealed yet, but the move is retroactive to May 23 and will allow him to come off the DL by June 2, assuming all goes well.

Prior to the injury, Darvish went 1-3 in eight starts with a 4.95 ERA, 4.7 BB/9 and 11.0 SO/9 through 40 innings. Needless to say, these aren’t the kind of results the Cubs were hoping to see after inking the righty to a six-year, $126 million contract back in February, though the circumstances affecting his performances appear to have largely been out of his control. He missed a start in early May after coming down with the flu and has struggled to pitch beyond the fifth inning in five of his eight starts to date.

The Cubs recalled left-hander Randy Rosario from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Rosario has yet to amass more than five career innings in the majors, but has impressed at Triple-A so far this year: he maintained an 0.97 ERA, 2.8 BB/9 and 6.1 SO/9 through 19 1/3 innings in 2018. As for Darvish’s next scheduled turn in the rotation, Tyler Chatwood is lined up to take the mound when the Cubs face off against the Giants in the series finale on Sunday. A starter for Monday night’s game has yet to be determined.