White Sox add veteran catcher Stassi in trade with Braves
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CHICAGO -- The White Sox strengthened their catching mix by acquiring veteran Max Stassi and cash considerations from the Braves on Saturday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.
Stassi, 32, is owed $7 million for ¡¯24, and the Braves will cover most of Stassi¡¯s salary. Stassi has a $7.5 million club option for ¡¯25 with a $500,000 buyout.
At 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, the right-handed-hitting Stassi has a .212/.295/.361 slash line with 41 home runs, 128 RBIs and 136 runs scored in 403 games over 10 Major League seasons with Houston (2013-19) and the Angels (2019-22). He combined to record 29 homers and 85 RBIs in 220 games over his last three seasons with the Angels (2020-22).
He missed the entire 2023 season due to stints on the injured list with a left hip strain and restricted list due to a family medical issue. Stassi was traded Friday by the Angels to the Braves with infielder David Fletcher in exchange for first baseman Evan White and left-handed pitcher Tyler Thomas.
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According to FanGraphs.com, Stassi¡¯s 38.1 framing rate from 2018-22 was the second best by a catcher in MLB, trailing only Austin Hedges (43.5). His 24 defensive runs saved ranked him tied for sixth, and his 55.4 defensive rating ranked fifth.
This move puts the White Sox 40-man roster at 40. Stassi joins Korey Lee and Carlos P¨¦rez on the team¡¯s catching depth chart, with switch-hitting catcher Edgar Quero, the No. 3 White Sox prospect and No. 81 overall per MLB Pipeline, targeted for Triple-A Charlotte to start the ¡¯24 season. Adding Stassi enhances the improved defense plan for general manager Chris Getz, especially up the middle.
Lee, 25, was acquired from the Astros prior to the 2023 Trade Deadline. He played in 24 games for the White Sox and showed solidly behind the plate, but finished 5-for-65 offensively.
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