White Sox Catcher Logjam: Korey Lee Nearing Return as Decisions Loom

Since he has not had much time on the active roster in 2025, Lee’s 2024 walk rate was under 5 percent, while his strikeout rate exceeded 30 percent. His OPS was a paltry .591, with an xwOBA under .260. His framing and blocking were far below average, although he possesses a strong arm and quick pop time. If the Sox do not keep him in Triple-A or designate him for assignment, it raises an interesting question about his place on the roster.

While this is good news for depth at the catcher position, calling up Edgar Quero has created quite the logjam behind the plate for the White Sox. Quero has not had a great series in Kansas City, but he still boasts a .391 on-base percentage with 16 hits and seven walks against only 11 strikeouts. His approach is elite for a 22-year-old, so he will not be going anywhere. On the other hand, his sprint speed is below par, and his framing and blocking are both questionable, even though he can throw out runners on the basepaths. All that said, it makes no sense to demote a player who has proven he can compete and succeed at the Major League level.

Matt Thaiss is the other backstop the White Sox currently have on the 26-man roster. Like Quero and many catchers, he possesses below-average sprint speed, and Thaiss’ framing and blocking skills seem to have declined since his time with the Los Angeles Angels. Interestingly, Thaiss has a .743 OPS as a catcher, with an on-base percentage comparable to Quero’s. At 30 years old, his stats are notable, especially since the average OPS for a catcher in 2025 is .722. His abilities could theoretically attract trade interest as a backup catcher for a contender.

As for contenders making moves in mid-May, options may be limited, but this could be a pathway for Chris Getz and the White Sox.

Kyle Teel, ranked No. 27 among prospects by MLB.com, currently plays in Charlotte. The former first-round pick has a .354 on-base percentage and a .743 OPS in 30 games. The White Sox will likely wait to promote him to the big-league roster, particularly because Charlotte is a hitter-friendly ballpark. 

However, if the White Sox keep Thaiss or Lee around, Teel will eventually need a spot as well. He logged some time in the outfield while at Virginia, so this could be an avenue to 35th and Shields this year. As he has predominantly been a catcher or the designated hitter for the Knights, it will be intriguing to see if the White Sox try him as a corner outfielder at some point this summer.

If the White Sox decide not to move Thaiss, Lee, still a pre-arbitration player, could remain in Triple-A for now. This isn’t necessarily a bad problem for the White Sox to have, but if Teel forces the issue with his hitting soon, Chris Getz will have some complicated decisions to make.