February 22, 2024
Free-agent catcher
Austin Nola has signed with the Kansas City Royals on a minor-league deal, according to a source. Nola initially signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on a minors deal this offseason, but he was released after
Gary Sanchez's deal with the Brewers became official this week. The older brother of Phillies starting pitcher
Aaron Nola, Austin was sent to the minors last year with the San Diego Padres after slashing just .146/.260/.192 with a home run and eight RBI in 52 games played in 2023. In Kansas City this spring, the veteran backstop will likely compete with
Freddy Fermin for the backup job behind All-Star
Salvador Perez. After Nola's offensive collapse last year, he's well off the fantasy radar and isn't guaranteed a roster spot on Opening Day in KC.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
January 5, 2024
The Milwaukee Brewers signed free-agent catcher
Austin Nola to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training on Friday. The 34-year-old backstop became a free agent when the San Diego Padres non-tendered him in November. Nola became the Friars' starting catcher in 2022 by hitting .251 (87-for-347) with four home runs and 40 RBI in 110 games, but he fell flat this past season and was sent to the minors after hitting a putrid .146 (19-for-130) with a homer and 31 strikeouts in 52 games played at the big-league level. He's going to need to show better results offensively in 2024 and will likely open the season at Triple-A Nashville, where he'll serve as minor-league catching depth behind
William Contreras and
Eric Haase at the major-league level.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
September 2, 2023
San Diego Padres catcher
Austin Nola has been diagnosed with a vision-related issue, according to beat writer Jeff Sanders. Nola, due to his struggles this season, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso back in mid-July. He hasn't played with the Chihuahuas since August 2, however, as he's undergone multiple neurological tests that eventually diagnosed his vision issue, which has been impacting his brain's ability to coordinate his eyes, per Sanders. It's unclear what the next steps will be for the veteran backstop but we likely won't see him in the majors again this season while he recovers from his vision impairment. The 33-year-old really struggled in the early going for the Friars, posting a .143/.260/.190 triple-slash line to go along with one home run and eight RBI over 126 at-bats (51 games). Hopefully, he gets right and can bounce back next season for the Padres.
--Jon Mathisen - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune
July 18, 2023
The San Diego Padres activated catcher
Luis Campusano (thumb) from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. In corresponding moves, the Padres designated infielder
Rougned Odor for assignment and optioned catcher
Austin Nola and infielder/outfielder
Brandon Dixon to Triple-A El Paso. Campusano had surgery to fix a torn ligament in his left thumb on May 12, but he'll now return to split playing time at catcher and designated hitter with
Gary Sanchez. The 24-year-old has hit just .198 with three homers in 35 big-league games so far, so he's not an immediate add in two-catcher formats. Odor will likely clear waivers after hitting .210 with four homers and 18 RBI in 59 games for the Friars. Nola will go down to the farm after going just 19-for-130 (.146) in 52 games in 2023 at the major-league level.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Padres Twitter
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