The White Sox have claimed catcher Drew Romo off waivers from the Mets, according to a club announcement. Chicago designated infielder Ben Cowles for assignment in order to open a spot for Romo on the 40-man roster.
The No. 35 overall pick by the Rockies back in 2020, Romo garnered some top-100 fanfare earlier in his prospect days but has seen his bat stall out after a nice 2023 season between High-A and Double-A. He’s still a quality defensive catcher with a rocket arm behind the plate, but Romo’s offensive output at Triple-A has declined in consecutive seasons. He hit .264/.329/.409 (75 wRC+) in an extremely hitter-friendly Triple-A Albuquerque setting in 2025 and saw his strikeout rate balloon from 17.8% in ’24 to 25.8%.
The Rockies gave Romo a couple brief looks in the majors, but he totaled only 56 plate appearances and logged a .167/.196/.222 slash with a sky-high 37.5% strikeout rate. He still has a pair of minor league option years remaining, so he’ll give the South Siders some defensive-minded depth behind the plate.
The Sox have Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero on the big league roster already. Both were top-100 prospects this time a year ago. Quero held his own in his 2025 MLB debut (.268/.333/.356 in 403 plate appearances), and Teel excelled at the plate. In 297 trips to the batter’s box, Teel slashed .273/.375/.411 (125 wRC+) with a big 12.5% walk rate. Given that he not only outproduced Quero but also grades out as a vastly better defender, Teel staked his claim to the starting job in 2026 and beyond. Twenty-seven-year-old Korey Lee, who’s out of minor league options, will also have to break camp with the team (if he’s not traded first) or else be designated for assignment.
Both Teel and Quero have drawn offseason trade interest, though that doesn’t mean a move will come to fruition. Other clubs have called the White Sox about that catching tandem — not vice versa — which is only natural, given the scarcity of quality catchers in the game and the ever-increasing emphasis on cultivating young, controllable talent. Claiming another catcher doesn’t indicate that the Sox are more seriously considering a trade of either Teel or Quero; it’s more likely a mere matter of adding some depth (particularly some optionable depth, as Lee’s hold on his roster spot figures to be a bit tenuous).
As for Cowles, who’ll turn 26 next month, he’s a former tenth-round pick by the Yankees who has already twice changed teams in his pro career. New York shipped him to the Cubs alongside Jack Neely in the 2024 Mark Leiter Jr. trade, and the White Sox claimed him off waivers about 13 months later.
Cowles has yet to take a plate appearance in the majors. He split the ’25 season between the Triple-A clubs for the two Chicago teams, slashing a combined .235/.300/.371 with nine homers, 18 steals, a 7.2% walk rate and a 28.8% strikeout rate. He’s viewed as a serviceable defender at shortstop who can also handle second base and third base, giving him a chance to carve out a role as a utility player.
Although his 2025 numbers were ugly, Cowles hit .286/.372/.457 with nine homers, 14 steals, a 10.4% walk rate and a 17.7% strikeout rate in 92 Double-A games during the 2024 season. Between that production, his solid glove/speed combination, and a pair of remaining minor league option years, there’s a chance he’ll be picked up by another club hoping to secure some optionable infield depth.
Along with Ryan Rolison, Drew Romo appears to be another former Rockie hot potato that no one wants to keep for logn this off season. This is team #4 for Romo as well since November.
Hmm, wonder when and why the Mets designated him?
This is a weird one… he was on the Mets’ 40-man roster and I’m pretty sure they were looking at him as their top catcher in Syracuse and #3 on the org depth chart at the position. If they waived him, who was it for? Is a signing incoming?
That’s something to wonder about. They just added him.
Probabl tried to sneak him through waivers hoping no one would notice just like Baltimore did. The White Sox will probably try to do the same thing.
All this does is make me wonder, if so many teams thought enough of Romo to claim him, then why did the Rockies settle for a cash trade? You would think someone would have given up a lotto ticket prospect or a pitcher at the end of the 40 man. Same with Rolison except maybe an infielder for him.
Megill accepted arbitration.
I’m guessing the Christian Arroyo signing.
That was a minor league deal
Sean Reid-Foley coming back after rehabbing completely and looking tremendous in Mexico this winter.
And though he seems ancient, he’s 30 years old.
But it’d be a minor league deal.
Ben Cowles seems to be one of those Yankee prospects that does nothing once he leaves the Yankee system… that happens quite a bit.
Coop will fix him! Oh.. wait.
Hopefully Walker Janek is different from Romo.
It frequently takes catchers longer to hit their stride as batters. I’ve heard that the physical and mental toll of catching tends to slow their development as hitters. Perhaps Romo will be a later bloomer. In any case, you can’t have too much minor league depth,
To me, this opens the door to trading Lee. Romo gives them a glove-first C, which is all you’d expect from a backup, in case Quero or Teel gets hurt. Because he can be stashed in the minors, this gives them flexibility that Lee doesn’t offer.
Lee won’t return much, but it’s still a decent move for the Sox.
I have no idea Romo could play OF in an emergency situation unlike Lee.
According to BR, Romo has never played a position other than C as a professional.
I heard Lorenzen can also play shortstop on his off days
I guess but Drew Romo can start the season in AAA whenever one of the catchers is injured.
I agree that a White Sox trade involving a catcher, likely Korey Lee is in the cards ahead of opening day. With the dearth of MLB catching depth, I believe Lee might have a bit more value than you suspect. He’s a fine defender and his hitting has improved since the team acquired him from the Astros for RP Kendall Graveman ahead of the 2023 summer trade deadline. Lee always possessed decent power. His BA/OBP has improved during his 3 years with the White Sox.
Lee’s trade value might still be somewhat limited but he could make a fine addition in a bigger trade, perhaps one involving CF Luis Robert Jr. to a contender who also needs a backup catcher.
If no trade materializes before opening day, the White Sox can still potentially keep Lee on their 26-man active roster like they did to close out last season. Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero have some lineup flexibility aside from catching. There’s a good chance that both will be in the batting order on some days with one catching and the other at DH. Teel is also extremely athletic for a catcher. He played some corner OF in college and also appeared in LF for the White Sox to finish an extra inning game last summer. Keel has been getting some reps in the OF and might get more in spring training. Lee also played LF once last season, a more extended 2 inning outing. Lee also appeared twice as a mop-up pitcher, tossing 3 innings total.
I agree with this. We need them bothin the lineup. Trade Lee and Sosa
Why would you suggest trading Corey Lee for a Dominic Fletcher type outfielder, when Quero could return a Braden Montgomery type?
Or they can try to pass Lee through waivers and outright him.
Trading Quero for the best MLB ready outfielder makes even more sense now.
Bruh this is just a depth move.
You don’t trade for a 4th catcher on the 40 man roster unless you have plans for one of the other three to move on. Most teams only carry 3 and some only carry 2. My bet is that Quero or Teel is no longer in a ChiSox uniform by the end of the month.
Either that or Romo is on his 5th different team since the beginning of December.
I hope teel and quero can both play everyday. thier bats are too good to trade
Teel & Quero not going anywhere soon.
Ha! Larnach is notionally league average. He can be there by lunchtime tomorrow.
Really? I guess the Sox FO had nothing better to do today.
I was just reading an article on ESPN, that some teams do not know much TV revenue they will be receiving because Fan Duel.
So that may be the reason teams aren’t making offers that you would normally them make.
Having competent depth at catching isn’t a bad thing whatsoever.
I would have traded Teel for Edward Cabrera and given the C job to Edgar Quero with Lee and Romo as depth options.
Absolutely not.
Good you are not a GM.
For the White Sox, it’s Paul Skenes or bust! LOL
Skenes, everybody and their mothers worried about Cabrera being injury prone but Skenes and his funky body and funky mechanics, nobody thinks much of because he has been durable for two seasons and has been so dominant.
I like Cabrera more than Skenes. Watch how quiet his mechanics are, he has complete control of his body and is effortless in his delivery. Watch him throw from the stretch, he is like a ninja assassin.
Now watch Skenes hurl. He is like a freight train. He is like a bull out the gate at a PBR event. Body is everywhere.
Teel for Cabrera would be an easy trade to make in my opinion.
I’m not trading Kyle Teel for 3 years of control of a guy who’s tossed over 1100 innings once. Here you are talking about mechanics yet Cabrera is always hurt.
Should be 100*. Clear typo haha
I guess you not a owner?
^ @ No ABS in ‘27: thank god you don’t run the team (not sure why I can’t reply directly)
I will take it, it’s an upgrade as far as batting.
Id rather it be Tony Romo
Bolster the bullpen with Enrique Romo. Back after 40 years of retirement.
Romo if you want to. Romo around the world
Come along….and bring your Juke Box Money!!!
You always need extra catchers in the spring. I wouldn’t read much more into than they want to take a closer look.
I wish the White Sox would now get some quality wallpapers. Are we just keeping on keeping on ? Is this gonna be a 75 – 100 losses once again . What’s gonna stop the streak ?
*** ballplayers
Sorry my faith hasn’t been yet restored in Getz or the Sox . I am now 80 years old and I have been a Sox fan since is I was 9 . 71 years Before I pass on I would like to see another World Series but I am very doubtful . Someone please tell me when we will again have a winner. At least a .500 club