Mark Bowman of MLB.com says that Flowers played with two degenerative discs in his back the last few seasons and developed another after signing a minor league contract with the Braves earlier this month. He will remain with the Braves in a coaching capacity, helping them to prepare game plans. Flowers, 35, batted .237/.319/.391 with 86 home runs over 12 major league seasons.

Flowers will be on the taxi squad for now, but he could soon be added to the Braves' active roster with Travis d'Arnaud facing a lengthy absence due to a torn thumb ligament that required surgery. Flowers, 35, batted .217/.325/.348 with one home run and five RBI over 22 games (80 plate appearances) for Atlanta last year.

According to Puma, the Mets aren't comfortable with their catching depth and are in the market for someone to either unseat Thomas Nido as the primary backup to James McCann, or at least provide a more serviceable third option on the depth chart. Flowers, 35, had a down season offensively with the Braves in 2020, slashing just .217/.325/.348 with one homer, five RBI and a 34/8 K/BB ratio over 80 plate appearances.

Flowers left for what is being described as "precautionary reasons" and is not expected to need an IL stint, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic. Travis d'Arnaud has taken over behind the plate. For now, consider Flowers day-to-day.