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
Queue the duck boats! We got our guy
“Cue” not “queue”
if you’re gonna make the same bad joke someone always makes on a minor league signing, do it better.
Queue
[kyoo] | Noun. British English.
A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.
Take a seat, pal.
That’s the cue to sit down Ghost.
Ghost? As ace pitcher Joe Flahwrty is wont to say: Very Scaredy, kids! Awoooh! Boo!
You can cue a queue of duckboats as long as it doesn’t confuse the Spanish speakers.
Cue and queue. And Q. All work here. Points!
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!
pad thaiss is pretty good.
Thaiss can hit.
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.
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.