JAN. 6: Soto’s chances of making the big league roster indeed appear to be quite strong. FanRag’s Jon Heyman tweets that the contract includes not only a $2MM base salary but a club option for the 2018 season, lending credence to the notion that the Sox are banking on Soto more than the typical veteran minor league signee.
JAN. 5: The White Sox have struck a minor-league deal with free-agent catcher Geovany Soto, according to Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com (via Twitter). Soto, who has played previously in Chicago with both the White Sox and Cubs, will turn 34 in two weeks’ time.
After providing the South Siders with a .219/.301/.406 batting line over 210 plate appearances in 2015, Soto returned to the open market in search of a new opportunity. He ended up landing with the Angels on a one-year, $2.8MM contract.
This time, Soto will have to earn his way onto a roster in camp. Though he hit quite well in Los Angeles — .269/.321/.487 — Soto managed only 86 trips to the plate in 26 games. The problem was a knee issue that hindered him throughout the year and ultimately forced him to the DL for good in mid-August.
It seems reasonable to expect that, as Levine notes, Soto will have a solid chance at taking an active roster spot. The top two catchers on the depth chart, at present, are Omar Narvaez and Kevan Smith — each of whom made his major-league debut in 2016. Alfredo Gonzalez and Roberto Pena perhaps also represent options.
you go geo
Would have been a nice fit for the Angels, only had he been able to keep himself healthy.
If the Angels are interested in a has been catcher, who should be playing in the minor leagues, maybe retired then Kurt Suzuki, Ryan Hannigan and saltalamachia (spelling) are all still FA.
Yep. He definitely was solid the time he was on the field. Too bad he couldn’t stay on it.
All of these signings are stop gaps until the blue chips start coming up and dominating. Calm before the storm for the Sox
LOL! Geo’s a stop gap. Sox fans are something else
Well, he is a stopgap. Not sure why that makes sox fans “something else”
what else would he be?
stop·gap
ˈstäpˌɡap/
noun
a temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying a need.
Not sure how he’s NOT a stopgap – do you see him as a permanent solution and what team are you a fan of?
I always wondered how to pronounce stopgap.
I’m sure he can out play you though
He is a stopgap…what else would you call a minor league/likely 1-year deal? This post is almost as dumb as the people who try to argue a pitcher’s worth based on wins and losses.
At least it’s not as dumb as arguing a stopgap pitcher’s worth in wins and losses
So the White Sox now have a potential battery of Giovanni Soto and Geovany Soto in 2017. lol
He doesn’t get rave reviews at C and OF
Okay, I’ll bite… my Kyle doesn’t earn rave reviews at C or OF either.
Actually, Soto’s a decent catcher when healthy. Sox need a lefty to platoon with him..
Omar Narvaez bats left-handed and pretty much earned a 2017 roster spot based on his work with the White Sox after being promoted to the team last July.
I guess he’ll do since the Sox don’t want to win this year anyway.
Ha, right you are Mrs. Schwarber
Mr. Soxcessful, thanks for your interest in White Sox baseball! I bet you were so thrilled when Aroldis Chapman hit that game winning grand slam in game 8!
Um, this stuff is priceless!!
youtube.com/watch?v=QMrcqEYdCDI
Alpha Centauri is about to recall you….
You’re definitely right about the priceless part, anyway.
at least they didn’t do something stupid, like throw a bunch of money at wieters
hopefully soto cleans up his framing and that goofy thing where he falls down whenever he throws back to the pitcher.
they’re gonna need another stop gap next year assuming zack collins sticks behind the plate
He was among the top 20-25 framers in the league in 2015. I worry about the knee injury and age limiting his durability but of the FA guys remaining, he was probably the 2nd best option wrt handling young pitching. Also think Alfredo Gonzalez is a bit underrated.
Geovany Soto also offers familiarity with a key member of the White Sox rotation in 2017. He was Carlos Rodon’s personal catcher for much of the southpaw’s 2015 rookie season. He also worked with Jose Quintana and many members of the current White Sox bullpen. Soto was also a battery mate of recently signed former Texas Ranger Derek Holland from 2012-2014.
the majority line of thinking is that soto will catch holland and shields.
considering rodon’s ERA with soto catching him was around 9, the only reason he should catch him is to keep rodon’s arbitration salary down
You make a valid point with Soto in regards to Rodon. He caught him less frequently in August and September when Rodon finished his rookie season strong. Tyler Flowers, the White sox “regular” catcher was a more proficient pitch-framer, something that would have benefited a young pitcher like Rodon who had command issues along with a wipeout slider that umpires often have trouble calling accurately.
As far as pairing with the veterans, that doesn’t offer much of a guarantee either. Soto also caught Jeff Samardzija frequently as a former battery mate of his with the Cubs. The “Shark ‘ greatly under-achieved in his sole season with the White Sox in 2015 although that was more on the pitcher and his pitching coach Don Cooper.
If Soto makes the opening day roster as a platoon catcher with Omar Narvaez over Kevan Smith it will probably be based as much on hitting splits as defense. None of the three get particularly great grades as framers. Soto’s advantage would be with his MLB experience and knowledge of hitters behind the plate.
Has anyone seen Soto throw the ball back to the mound after each pitch? He must have gotten the yips Mackey Sasser style and now falls forward in order to toss the back back to the pitcher. I first noticed this at Spring Training in 2015. Very odd.
That’s fine for a 70-win team for the next two-3 years. High draft picks come with signing below replacement level players and that’s exactly what the Sox should be doing. Sign and employ every guy that loses you games!
Geo Soto will help lose games. Smart move by Hahn.
they need to employ the reds model of an absolutely lol-worthy bullpen to make sure you blow games that you accidentally get the lead in.
Did you watch the Sox last year? They had that part nailed down.
The reds bullpen was actually worse…somehow. By fwar the WS were 18th while the reds brought up the rear at #30 with a sparkling -3.6 fwar.
nice pickup for the sox
Be sure to tune in to am 1000 as I break down this and other Sox moves.
Will “Murph” be with you?