If former MLB general manager Jim Bowden’s comments are any indication, the Chicago White Sox are poised to be active before the trade deadline. But the bigger question remains: just how aggressive is general manager Chris Getz willing to be?
Bowden appeared on an episode of Foul Territory and said, based on what he is hearing from the White Sox front office and opposing general managers, Getz is targeting help at three positions: starting pitcher, reliever, and catcher.
That should come as no surprise to White Sox fans, especially with the pitching staff ranking 11th in MLB in ERA and the catching depth taking a major hit after Kyle Teel’s injury. But Bowden’s comments contradict a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who believes the White Sox will be reluctant to make a major splash at the trade deadline because they don’t want to mortgage their future.
Based on their recent moves, if the White Sox are going to make a major move, it likely won’t come at catcher. The White Sox are one of at least six teams looking to add a catcher at the deadline, but the market is competitive, given the limited number of options available.
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With Athletics’ catcher Shea Langeliers now sidelined and the Los Angeles Dodgers also looking for help after Will Smith’s injury, the Dodgers are in a position to corner the catching market.
The White Sox have also managed to stay afloat despite receiving minimal offensive production from the catcher position, thanks in large part to an offense that still ranks ninth in baseball, making pitching depth a much more pressing need.
White Sox Sign Eric Haase To Minor League Deal
But to help address the issue, Getz has added depth. On Tuesday, the White Sox signed Eric Haase to a minor league deal after the San Fransico Giants released him on July 23rd.
The 33-year-old is a nine-year MLB veteran who has spent the bulk of his career in the AL Central Division after playing four years with the Detroit Tigers and three years with the Cleveland Guardians.
While both Edgar Quero and Drew Romo are struggling at the plate, Haase does not provide a clear offensive upgrade. He is a career .224/.276/.394 and only has two seasons where he has hit double-digit homers.
Defensively, however, Haase would provide a modest upgrade. His pop time is significantly better than both Quero’s and Romo’s. While his pitch framing and blocks-above-average numbers are below average, they still rank ahead of Quero, who sits in the 16th percentile in pitch framing and the sixth percentile in blocks above average. Regardless of the underlying metrics it gives the White Sox a veteran in a room filled with young catchers to help handle the pitching staff.
While I don’t expect Haase to spend significant time in Chicago this season, if the White Sox are unable to add another catcher before the deadline, he could emerge as a viable fallback option to provide additional organizational depth.
