Matt Thaiss's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The Chicago White Sox acquired catcher Matt Thaiss from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. It's already the second time Thaiss has been traded this offseason, with the Cubs landing him last month in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop was no longer needed after the Cubbies signed veteran Carson Kelly to a two-year deal to serve as the backup for Miguel Amaya. Thaiss should have a better path to playing time with the rebuilding Pale Hose. He'll mainly be competing with Korey Lee in spring training, although Chicago also has prospect Edgar Quero waiting in the wings. The former first-rounder has hit just .208/.313/.342 with a .655 OPS, 22 homers and 79 RBI in 245 career MLB games over six seasons. At best, he's likely to be a part-time catching option for the White Sox in 2025.

The Chicago Cubs acquired catcher Matt Thaiss on Wednesday from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations, while RHP Trey Wingenter was designated for assignment (DFA) in a corresponding move. A week ago, Thaiss was DFAd after the Angels signed veteran Travis d'Arnaud as their backup catcher to Logan O'Hoppe. The Cubs saw too much offensive futility out of their backstops in 2024 and are now without veterans Yan Gomes and Christian Bethancourt after they became free agents in June and November respectively. Thaiss figures to slot in as the veteran presence behind Miguel Amaya, and this could further delay the debut of 21-year-old star prospect Moises Ballesteros unless the Cubs bring him up as a DH. Thaiss made his major league debut in 2019 but is a career .208 hitter with a career .292 wOBA and 83 wRC+, so he's off the fantasy radar for now and he may not be able to hold off Ballesteros long.

Los Angles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss was designated for assignment after the club added veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud on a one-year deal in free agency earlier this week. If Thaiss isn't picked up off waivers by another club, he'll have the option of returning to the Angels or choosing free agency. The 29-year-old was the 16th overall pick in 2016 out of the University of Virginia, but he never lived up to his draft stock. Thaiss hit only .204/.323/.299 with two home runs, 16 RBI and three stolen bases in 57 games played in 2024 while serving in a backup role behind Logan O'Hoppe. In his six seasons with the Halos, O'Hoppe had a .208/.313/.342 slash line with a weak .655 OPS, 22 homers, 79 RBI and six stolen bases. He'll likely latch on with another team, potentially on a minor-league deal, but Thaiss' ceiling these days is probably as a second-string catcher.