The Texas Rangers jumped on veteran backstop Omar Narváez, signing him to a minor-league deal and assigning him to Triple-A Round Rock to shore up catching depth. Narváez, 33, sits at .252/.335/.373 across 681 MLB games over 10 seasons and was an NL All-Star with Milwaukee a few years back. He gives the Rangers a ervaren option behind Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka, and potentially a right-handed bat off the bench if injuries pop up. Cooper Johnson sits as Round Rock’s lone catcher on the 40-man’s depth chart, while Tucker Barnhart’s earlier stint in the organization ended with a release. The club also has Stanford product Malcolm Moore as a long-term upside piece in the high minors, but he’s still years away. Narváez’s arrival signals a prudent hedge for a playoff-aspiring club that already spent premium draft capital on catchers last summer. Round Rock gets a high-floor veteran who could push for a late-season MLB look if he stays healthy and productive.

Fantasy takeaway: Narváez is unlikely to push Heim from the job unless injuries clear the way, but he can be a valuable depth piece in 2025 and a potential waiver-wire add in trades or depth charts. If Heim struggles or Higashioka’s bat underperforms, Narváez could earn a look behind the plate or as a righty-hitting catcher/DH option in a hot streak. For now, keep an eye on Round Rock call-ups and any late-season roster moves that could propel Narváez onto the major-league stage.

Tucker Barnhart, the highly regarded catcher hailing from Brownsburg, Indiana, has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. The 34-year-old, known for his defensive prowess, earned Gold Glove awards in 2017 and 2020 while playing the majority of his career with the Cincinnati Reds (2014-2021). Over his eight seasons with the Reds, he accumulated a batting average of .241 with 53 home runs and 292 RBIs.

In addition to his time with the Reds, Barnhart also had brief stints with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, and Arizona Diamondbacks, before recently appearing in eight games for the Texas Rangers this year. A standout in high school, he was celebrated as the 2009 Indiana Mr. Baseball after an impressive senior season. Barnhart's journey from a 10th-round draft pick to a two-time Gold Glove recipient marks a notable career in the MLB.

The Texas Rangers have activated outfielder Evan Carter from the injured list in a timely boost ahead of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Carter, who last played on May 16, returns to a lineup where he had slashed .182/.270/.273 over 11 games prior to his injury, which was a Grade 2 right quad strain. He is set to take over the center field position, batting eighth. Wyatt Langford and Alejandro Osuna will man the corners, while Adolis Garcia will move to the bench.

Additionally, catcher Tucker Barnhart, who was recently designated for assignment, has opted to enter free agency. As Carter rejoins the Rangers, his impact will be closely watched, especially considering Texas’s need to solidify their outfield rotation. His performance will be crucial as the Rangers aim to maintain their competitive edge in the league.

The Toronto Blue Jays faced a challenging setback, suffering their second consecutive 3-1 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. Junior Caminero’s impressive first-inning home run off José Berríos marked the decisive moment, delivering three runs that the Rays would not relinquish. Although Berríos rebounded well, retiring 13 of the next 14 batters, the damage was already done.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. managed to bring some light to the Jays’ performance, hitting a long 423-foot home run that extended his current on-base streak to 24 games—the longest active streak in MLB. Meanwhile, George Springer has hit a rough patch, with only three hits in his last 34 at-bats. Additionally, the Blue Jays placed Yimi Garcia on the injured list due to shoulder issues, continuing the struggles for the team.

Wyatt Langford propelled the Texas Rangers to a narrow 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies with a pivotal sixth-inning two-run homer, marking his seventh home run of the season. Langford's early batting practice was a key factor, as noted by manager Bruce Bochy, who emphasized the importance of timely hits after a streak of one-run game losses. The Rangers snapped a seven-game dry spell in one-run games, with starting pitcher Tyler Mahle delivering a stellar performance of 6.1 innings and a mere one run allowed, enhancing his already impressive 1.47 ERA.

In the win, the Rangers showed resilience. After being down 1-0, Langford’s hit not only ended a no-hit bid by Rockies’ Chase Dollander but also brought the Rangers back into contention. Catcher Tucker Barnhart's leadoff walk was instrumental, breaking a previous streak of 15 consecutive batters retired. The Rangers' bullpen, featuring pitchers Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, Luke Jackson, and Jacob Webb, managed the final two innings successfully, though Webb faced some challenges, walking the bases loaded before securing the win.