Catcher

The Padres are in midst of serious trade negotiations with the Braves to send All-Star catcher Benito Santiago to the Braves, sources say, possibly before opening day. The Padres would receive left-handed reliever Kent Mercker and catcher Greg Olson, according to one source. Other players, such as minor-league catcher Tyler Houston or pitcher Pete Smith, might also be involved.

It is the hope of the Seattle Mariners that the acquisition of Steve Yeager will help a touted young pitching staff cure a case of shakes. The issue here isn't jittery nerves. The issue seems to be a lack of confidence by the Mariners' staff in the pitch selection of Bob Kearney, the first-string catcher each of the last two years.

A 10-year stint in the Angels organization, including the last two as a big league reserve, came to an abrupt end for Bobby Wilson on Monday when the catcher was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays, a move that clears the way for Hank Conger to be the Angels' No. 2 catcher. "I wasn't expecting the phone call, and I don't know what to think of it, but it's time to move forward," said Wilson, a solid defensive player who batted .211 in 75 games last season. As a player entering his first year of arbitration, Wilson, who made $487,500 last season, would have cost the Angels a little more than they will pay Conger, a first-round pick in 2006, next season.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis underwent a minor knee operation last week, the team announced Monday. Ellis underwent a 30-minute procedure on Friday to trim the medial and lateral meniscus in his left knee, which were torn. He will begin physical therapy next week and is expected to be able to start his normal off-season training program in six weeks. He should be fully competitive at the start of spring training, according to the team. Soreness in the knee resulted in Ellis' missing two games in July and undergoing an MRI exam.

Atlanta Brave broadcasters are back where they belong. The question: Are Brave catchers? The commissioner's office is investigating suspicions that the Braves routinely widen the catcher's box at Turner Field to broaden the strike zone for their pitchers. A catcher set up off the plate but still within an altered box conceivably could create the illusion of an outside strike, particularly with a pitching staff whose reputation was built on control of the outer corner.

A.J. Ellis , an All-Star? "Why not?" Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly asked. Lost in the avalanche of home runs by Matt Kemp and Dodgers victories has been the play of Ellis, who, at 31, is in his first season as a major league starting catcher. Mattingly and General Manager Ned Colletti went into the season referring to catcher as a "defensive position" — a polite way of saying they didn't expect Ellis to contribute much offensively. But Ellis entered Thursday ranked fourth in the majors among catchers with an on-base percentage of .449.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Although two prominent managers recently have called for a ban on collisions at home plate, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said he is not convinced a rule change is in order. "It's a tough thing to legislate with any kind of rule," Scioscia said. San Francisco Giants Manager Bruce Bochy and St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny — former catchers — each has advocated such a ban, citing an unwarranted risk of injury. Bochy's Giants lost catcher Buster Posey for most of the 2011 season after a collision; Matheny's playing career ended because of concussions linked to collisions and to balls fouled off his mask.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Angels, who grow more concerned about Hank Conger's throwing problems with each passing day, have stepped up their search for an option at backup catcher. But with the start of the regular season two weeks away, the pickings are slim. And with a handful of other teams also looking for catching help, the Angels' best move may be to start the year with either Conger or John Hester backing up Chris Iannetta. "These next couple of weeks, hopefully we're going to sort some things out," Manager Mike Scioscia said.

I have an apology to make to Dwyre and kudos for the Dodgers, but I've never done this sort of thing before. I worry my computer will think it's not me writing and maybe crash. Dwyre, of course, is Bill Dwyre, the former grand poobah of the Sports section who stepped down to write about things no one really cares about. That brought me to A.J. Ellis. Dwyre wrote about him in spring training, apparently no jockeys available to interview, settling instead on a 30-year-old catcher who spent the better part of nine years in the minors.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels are offering Hank Conger a plum opportunity to gain a foothold in the big leagues this season as a left-handed-hitting complement to starting catcher Chris Iannetta. But it's a limited-time offer. This is the last season Conger, a first-round pick from Huntington Beach High in 2006, can be sent to the minor leagues without having to pass through waivers, where other teams can claim him. If Conger doesn't establish himself as a major leaguer by next spring, he will probably be an ex-Angel.