The Red Sox may have to make a decision on catcher Matt Thaiss soon. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that several players in camp on minor league deals have upward mobility clauses or opt-outs in their contracts. Most of those will come during the season. With Thaiss, he has an upward mobility clause five days prior to Opening Day. Cotillo also notes that Thaiss would make a salary of $1.3MM if added to the roster.
When an upward mobility clause is triggered, a player is offered up to the other 29 clubs in the league. If any of them are willing to give the player a roster spot, then the signing club has to either give him a roster spot themselves or trade him to another club that will. If no club offers him a roster spot, then he can be sent to the minors as non-roster depth.
Thaiss, 31 in May, is competing for the job backing up Carlos Narváez. Thaiss’s defense is questionable but he clearly has a keen eye at the plate, having drawn a walk in 13.1% of his career plate appearances. That has helped him produce a .210/.320/.332 batting line. The resulting 84 wRC+ indicates his production has been 16% below a league average hitter but backstops are generally about ten points below par, so that’s not too bad for a backup catcher.
The Sox have Connor Wong on the roster but he still has a minor league option remaining and put up a dismal .190/.262/.238 line last year. Mickey Gasper is optionable and can also play other positions. If the Sox wanted to, they could add Thaiss to the roster and option Wong and Gasper to serve as depth in Triple-A. Doing so would require opening a 40-man roster spot for Thaiss. If they are not willing to do that, it’s possible they could be forced to send him elsewhere.
There are some other contract provisions the Sox will have to consider, but not as urgently. Cotillo adds that right-hander Kyle Keller also has an upward mobility clause but not until April 15th. Cotillo had previously reported a less specific mid-April date for that clause.
That means the Sox can keep Keller as minor league depth for at least the first few weeks of the season and delay their decision until then. Keller also has other unspecified chances to opt out of the deal beyond that April 15th date, as well as a clause that allows teams from Japan and Korea to pursue him if he doesn’t have a spot on the major league roster. Keller spent the past four years pitching in Japan and put up a 2.42 earned run average in 152 1/3 innings.
The Sox have even more breathing room with some other deals. Infielder Vinny Capra has a June 1st opt-out. Catcher Jason Delay has opt-outs on June 30th and August 15th. Delay is in the same catching mix as Thaiss. If Thaiss ends up elsewhere, then Delay’s chances of getting a spot would improve. If he still doesn’t like his situation this summer, he’ll have a couple of chances to seek out greener pastures.
Capra seems a bit blocked right now. The Sox project to have Isiah Kiner-Falefa as their multi-positional bench infielder. They also have Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, Nate Eaton, Nick Sogard and Tsung-Che Cheng on the roster. A spate of injuries could change the calculus but Capra will have a chance to walk away if the path doesn’t clear.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images
I can see a scenario where Thaiss makes the opening day roster as the Backup Catcher and additional option at 1B/3B/extra LH hitter off the bench and Wong goes to Worcester to get everyday AB’s
Hard part is getting that 40 man spot.
Easy. Wong has an option. He goes to AAA to either figure it out or he’s gone. He’s been terrible this spring. Terrible last year. Very low bar for Thaiss. Also I’m not opposed to making a trade for Dalton Rushing.
The backup catcher should be glove first. Theiss is also not productive enough with the bat. Cwrtain stats can mislead and the club’s 26 season will not depend on Matt Theiss. He’s injury protection and nothing more. Only issue to me is whether it’s better for Wong to play every day. I’d prefer him on the major league club should he remain with the Sox.
Optioning Wong doesn’t remove him from the 40 man, just the 26 man MLB roster. To get him for the 40 man they’d have to DFA him, which I’m not a huge fan of Wong anyways so wouldn’t exactly be a huge deal.
I understand that. However with Navarez being so good on D it isn’t unthinkable to have a bat first backup. But you’re right
Oh no I definitely would have no problem DFAing. He really looks terrible on both sides. Passed balls and strikeouts non stop
Give Wong a longer leash. As good as Narvaez looked in the first half, it’s unclear if his second half collapse was solely due to his knee. I loved him but he looked like Sandy Leon with more pop and we know what happened to his bat. Let Narvaerz and Wong continue to develop this year and and see what the team has at the deadline. Theiss is not likely to be a season breaker player
It’s too bad that real life doesn’t come with an “upward mobility clause”.
That’s half the battle if he’s upward and mobile.
Thank you!
I’d rather they trade for Teel, he’s been raking in the WBC.
If Roman offers to shake Teel’s hand tonight, Kyle will oblige.
Who would you give up? – Teel is fairly valuable
WS have a young team, Teel’s not going anywhere.
NYY – Agreed, and what a bomb tonight by Teel! Maybe Roman will join him on the Italian team next time.
To answer your question, I’d trade Rafaela & Sandoval & Crawford & Bennett.
Fever, they could get more and it will cost Early instead of Bennett. Then there might be a deal although I’m still not sure. The White Sox still won’t win in 26 and woukd flip Sandoval by the deadline.
dewey – That’s exactly what I was thinking with Sandoval, Chicago could give him the innings to prove he’s fully recovered and then flip him.
I’d hate to give up Early, but you could be right.
Not getting Teel back sadly. Like that other catcher feller they let escape to Chicago- Carlton something wonder what ever happened to him
Theo – He went on to star in a sitcom and create a dance that went viral long before there was internet.
TV and dancing: isn’t that unusual?
I didn’t know he danced. I only recall Carlton becoming a NYC doorman for Rhoda’s,s building.
It’s right there in his contract, unlimited
Grey Poupon.
And he’ll need to avoid saying, ‘Please pass the jelly!’ whilst requesting the Polaner All Fruit.
Now that’s an impressive old reference.
I felt anticipation that it would happen.
i object to this contract on principle: upward mobility has no place in the united states of america
Wong has looked terrible in ST thus far, which shouldn’t be a huge red flag given you have to take ST stats with a grain of salt, but his underlying numbers were awful in 2024, so the lousy ’25 slash line was all but certain. I would be shocked if he’s on the club by June.
Gasper has looked good this spring, he’s probably done the most to deserve the backup spot. The added positional flexibility certainly doesn’t hurt either.
My guess though is Thaiss wins it while Gasper and Wong go to AAA given they have remaining options (just 1 in Wong’s case).
most – ST stats mean more depending on the player and situation.
If a player has a guaranteed roster spot locked up already, they will focus less on results and more on adjustments and experimentation.
But if a player is fighting for a roster spot, as Wong clearly is, results are much more important. That’s why less talented players tend to have above average stats in ST.