Matt Thaiss DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired catcher Matt Thaiss from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in exchange for outfielder Dru Baker, the team announced. In a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred outfielder Jonny DeLuca (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list. Thaiss could instantly become the backup to Danny Jansen in Tampa, which means that Ben Rortvedt is in danger of losing his spot on the major-league roster. The 30-year-old Thaiss bats from the left side and has done very little offensively in his seven years in the big leagues, slashing .209/.321/.337 with a .658 OPS, 23 home runs and 87 RBI in 280 total games. In 35 games with the Pale Hose before being traded, Thaiss had gone 18-for-85 (.212) with a homer, eight RBI, 11 runs scored and a stolen base in 110 trips to the plate.

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.