Matt Thaiss traded to Rays
TAMPA — Looking to upgrade at catcher behind starter Danny Jansen, the Rays acquired backstop Matt Thaiss from the White Sox on Tuesday in exchange for outfield prospect Dru Baker.
Thaiss was not immediately added to Tampa Bay’s active roster but should join the club before Wednesday afternoon’s series finale against the Twins at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
TRADE DETAILS
Rays get: C Matt Thaiss
White Sox get: Minor League OF Dru Baker
To make room on their 40-man roster, the Rays transferred rehabbing center fielder Jonny DeLuca to the 60-day injured list. DeLuca, who is on a Minor League rehab assignment while recovering from a right shoulder strain, is eligible for reinstatement as soon as June 6.
Thaiss, 30, hit .212/.382/.294 with a 99 OPS+, one home run, four doubles, eight RBIs and more walks (23) than strikeouts (21) in 35 games with the White Sox this season. In parts of seven Major League seasons with the Angels and White Sox, the New Jersey native — a first-round pick out of Virginia in the 2016 Draft — has hit .209/.321/.337 over 280 games.
As a left-handed-hitting catcher, Thaiss (pronounced “thice”) would seem to be a replacement for Ben Rortvedt, who has been Jansen’s backup this season. After capitalizing on a hot start to become Tampa Bay’s primary catcher last year, Rortvedt entered Tuesday batting just .100/.194/.117 in 67 plate appearances over 25 games.
This is Baker’s fifth season in the Rays’ system. The 25-year-old was picked in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft out of Texas Tech and worked his way up to Triple-A Durham, where he was hitting .245/.344/.302 in 17 games this season. He has been on the seven-day IL since April 22 due to a left groin strain.
