NEW YORK — The Chicago White Sox worked out a crunch at catcher Tuesday, trading Matt Thaiss to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor-league outfielder Dru Baker.
That cleared the way for the return of Korey Lee, who the Sox reinstated from the 10-day injured list following a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte.
Thaiss slashed .212/.382/.294 with four doubles, one home run, eight RBIs, 11 runs and 23 walks in 35 games with the Sox. He was acquired in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs had acquired Thaiss in November after the Los Angeles Angels designated him for assignment.
Baker, 25, is slashing .245/.344/.302 (13-for-53) with one home run, three RBIs and 10 runs in 17 games with Triple-A Durham. He has been on the seven-day injured list since April 22 with a left adductor strain.
Baker has a career .290/.368/.403 slash line with 41 doubles, 14 triples, 21 home runs, 143 RBIs, 190 runs and 119 stolen bases in 312 games during five minor-league seasons (2021-25) in the Rays organization. He had 42 stolen bases in 110 games with Double-A Montgomery in 2024.
Thaiss had been part of the catching mix with Edgar Quero. Lee steps back in as an option.
Lee, 26, had been on the injured list since April 10 with a sprained left ankle suffered the previous day at Cleveland. He is 5-for-15 (.333) with two doubles, one RBI and three runs in nine games this season.
Catching is one area where the Sox have organizational depth. One of their top prospects is Charlotte catcher Kyle Teel, who was acquired from Boston during the offseason as part of the Garrett Crochet trade.
Teel was named the International League Player of the Week on Monday after slashing .500/.636/1.188 with two doubles, three home runs, six walks, six RBIs and seven runs in five games against Round Rock from May 20-25.
