Willie

MacIver

The 29-year-old backstop was then optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He’ll add some much needed catching depth in the organization while Alejandro Kirk is shelved. Tyler Fitzgerald was designated for assignment in a corresponding move to clear a spot on the Jays’ 40-man roster.

The Rangers needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the promotion of Peyton Gray on Thursday and unfortunately MacIver was the odd man out this time around. There’s a decent chance that he slips through waivers unclaimed and continues to function as extra catching depth for the Rangers at Triple-A Round Rock.

It’s getting to that point in the spring where teams are trying to get their rosters ready for Opening Day, so large batches of cuts are the norm. There are no major surprises in this group. Bride could’ve possibly won a bench spot with a strong performance in the spring. Díaz will stay with the Rangers and try to work through his issues at the Triple-A level.

MacIver, a longtime Rockies prospect, made his major league debut with the A’s last season and hit .186/.252/.324 in 111 plate appearances as a backup catcher. He has options remaining, so the Rangers are probably looking at him as Triple-A insurance, assuming that they carry on with their Kyle Higashioka-Jonah Heim combo behind the plate.

Langeliers had started eight straight games and 12 of the last 13, so this is a routine day off. Willie MacIver will catch and bat ninth on Thursday.

It’s odd for Langeliers to sit out two in a row, so something might be going on here. Willie MacIver is starting once again.

Langeliers gets a well-deserved break after launching his 28th round-tripper of the season during Wednesday’s narrow victory. The 27-year-old is one big fly shy of matching last year’s career-high total. He’s getting his first full day off since July 13. It’ll be rookie Willie MacIver handling the catching duties in this one.

The go-ahead run should have been thrown out, but Gunnar Henderson made a bad relay throw wide of home. Even so, Alex Jackson would have still had time to get back to the plate and make a play, but he simply dropped the ball. Fortunately, none of those things are errors these days, so MacIver, who was recalled Tuesday with Austin Wynns hurt, got his two runs batted in. He now has five doubles and two homers through 19 big-league games.

MacIver, a longtime Rockies prospect, will take over backup catching duties from the injured Austin Wynns. He’s hit .245/.288/.449 with two homers in 16 games for the A’s this season, and he’s come in at .362/.426/.541 in 54 games in Triple-A.

MacIver hit a respectable .245/.288/.449 with two homers in 16 games while helping to fill in for Shea Langeliers, but the team is keeping Austin Wynns over him with Langeliers back.