The Red Sox have agreed to a minor-league deal with catcher Matt Thaiss, according to Andrew Parker of SoxProspects (link via Chris Cotillo of MassLive). Thaiss receives an invite to big-league Spring Training.
The 30-year-old was a first-round pick out of the University of Virginia in 2016 by the Angels. He debuted for them in 2019, batting .211/.293/.422 with an 86 wRC+ and a .211 ISO in 164 plate appearances that year. Thaiss has continued to post mid-80s wRC+ values throughout his career. After not getting much playing time from 2020-22, he got an extended look in 2023, making 307 PA in 95 games for the Halos. His 27.0% strikeout rate that year was worse than average, though his above-average 11.7% walk rate kept his on-base percentage above .300 even as he posted a low batting average.
In 2024, Logan O’Hoppe‘s ascension to the starting catcher role limited Thaiss’s playing time. That November, the team signed Travis d’Arnaud as their new backup catcher and designated Thaiss for assignment. He was traded first to the Cubs and then eventually to the White Sox. He split 2025 between the White Sox and the Rays, batting .218/.349/.288 with an 89 wRC+ that was plenty serviceable for a backup catcher. Reviews of his defense were mixed. He was worth 3 Defensive Runs Saved in 411 2/3 innings behind the plate this year, drawing positive marks for his blocking. On the flip side, Statcast rated his caught stealing rate, framing, and pop time all in the 18th percentile or lower.
For the Red Sox, Thaiss is a no-risk depth option behind incumbent Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong. Narvaez had a 97 wRC+ in 446 PA this year and was worth 10 DRS behind the plate. Wong and Thaiss won’t challenge him for starting time, but Thaiss’s consistent mid-80s wRC+ and above-average walk rate could challenge Wong for the backup spot, where Wong was a decent defender but a black hole offensively in 2025 (39 wRC+). Thaiss has over three years of service time and is out of options.
Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images
Thaiss, Thaiss, baby.
Kristi is that you?
First time he was drafted it was by Red Sox. They finally got him to sign with them. LOL
Can’t be any worse than Wong, so welcome to our likely new backup catcher!
Dirty, Wong’s injuries could have been a major factor in 25. Then too 24 could have been a fluke. Competition never hurts.
It will be interesting to see if Wong can bounce. He may still be serviceable as a backup. Certainly doesn’t hurt to add depth in the minors.
The only consideration is that adding Thaiss to the 40-man roster bumps someone else. At this point there is no one on the 40-man I want bumped unless Breslow can find a taker for Hicks or Yoshida. Once spring training starts, if Hicks gets straightened out or Yoshida hits like he did his first season with the Red Sox, there will be interest. The ‘offseason’ transactions are not really over until the season starts.
I am glad to see that Thaiss was added as a minor league signee.
Do we know that he was added to the 40 man roster? Since it was a minor league contract he wouldn’t need to knock someone off the roster until he gets called up.
Correct, he does not need a 40-man spot unless he wins a spot over Wong, which I don’t see happening unless Wong or Narvaez get hurt.
There will be an open spot in just a week when pitchers and catchers report, as Houck will go to the 60-day IL.
Sandoval seems the most likely to be traded at the moment, but will need to show he’s healthy in spring training first.
Ha, speak of the devil they found a taker for Hicks. It was on my wishlist but I did not see that coming, figured we were stuck with him. Gives me hope finding a buyer for Yoshida at some point won’t be impossible either.
pad thaiss is pretty good.
Thaiss can hit.
.210 lifetime. Yeah. He’s quite a hitter.
That doesn’t tell the entire story. He’s a very poor defensive catcher so he’s had to focus all of his development time on working on that aspect of his game just to be barely satisfactory enough to hardly stick at catcher. When he was drafted, scouts raved about his hit tool and said it was the best part of his game, plus they thought he’d develop moderate power along with it. Given he’s already about to be 31 in a couple months, a limited role that lets him be a bat-only player and get back to focusing on his swing might be his last, best chance at a meaningful role on an MLB roster. Maybe a team could use him in a pinch hit/part time DH capacity and squeeze out a little value.
It probably won’t be with Boston since we already have Yoshida as a bat-only guy. But if he has a good spring training with the stick he’ll probably catch on somewhere after the Sox cut him loose at cut downs.
Unless they unload for Ketel, which is 99% unlikely to happen, this is probably it for the Sox. It’s Romy and Hamilton at 2B and MM at 3B.
Why do you think this would be the final move? I don’t think they are done with the major league roster never mind additions to the minors. I just don’t think Breslow is going to be satisfied going into the season without another move. I just hope it is not one that will do more harm than good (trading Bello for an infielder that is not a difference maker).
I’m sure there will be minor moves, but just saying I think the offense is pretty much set and I’m not expecting an impactful addition at this point.
Nico Hoerner?
The final piece!
Can he play 2B?
Swing looked so sweet in college.
Getting away from Angels coaching might bring it back.
Good for Matt. A good guy that the Angels screwed up.
Expensive signing. At 51.4 to 57.4 million: that’s a slight overpay for Thaiss. But at least the Red Sox escape purgatory
Slightly better Blake Sabol…
Six Flags.
Bring back Bob Tillman.
Or Bob Montgomery.
Need people during ST, especially those that can catch.
Is this their backup catcher?
no. Wong is the backup.
He’ll get a chance to compete with Wong. Wong still has a minute league option.
The Red Sox had no viable 3rd catcher before this.
This is approximately the fourth back-up to the back-up catcher Breslow has brought in or “checked in” on.
Guess second base is all buttoned up….
Thaiss salary at $51.9 mill and counting. Q: does it go up with each sale of a Fenway frank or Pink Red Sock hat?