The White Sox announced that catcher Reese McGuire, has been signed to a one-year, $1.2MM contract. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers was the first to report the signing shortly before the club’s official announcement. No additional roster move was needed since the Sox had an open spot on their 40-man roster. McGuire is represented by Apex Baseball.
McGuire just opted out of a minor league deal with the Brewers yesterday and had 72 hours to explore the market for a new club. It took him about a day to land in a familiar location, as McGuire previously had a 53-game stint with the White Sox in 2022 (and he played on the other side of Chicago with the Cubs in 2025).
Signing a catcher didn’t seem any kind of priority for a Sox team that had Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee all lined up behind the plate, with Teel and Quero projected to get at-bats from both the catching position and the DH slot. However, Teel suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain during the World Baseball Classic that will keep him out of action for about 4-6 weeks, or roughly mid- to late April.
Teel told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin yesterday that he is “progressing fast,” and hoping to miss only about four weeks of time. Even with this positive update and the presence of both Quero and Lee, the White Sox apparently wanted to reinforce their catching depth, and perhaps retain the three-catcher plan they intend to deploy for the rest of the season. Lee is out of minor league options and sending either Teel or Quero down to Triple-A doesn’t seem to be in Chicago’s long-term interest (unless either is really struggling), so it creates an interesting question as to what will happen when Teel is healthy and the Sox are juggling four backstops.
For now, McGuire will suit up for his former team and look to provide his usual solid glovework. A top prospect back during his time in the Pirates’ farm system, McGuire has settled into a journeyman/backup type of career, playing for six different organizations during his career. McGuire has hit .248/.293/.374 with 25 homers over 1178 career plate appearances, with nine of those home runs coming last year with the Cubs (as part of a .226/.245/.444 slash line in 140 PA).
Parking lots all over Chicago trembling rn
Stay out of White Sox business.
KW, is that you?
They’re always on the lookout for AAAA players.
They must hate Korey Lee. You’re not opting out for a MiLB deal and you’re not carrying both those guys on your bench.
Not really sure why they pick up Reese, even if Teel will miss time.
Nice knowing ya, Korey
Tired jokes.
Praise the mute button.
Never enough
He and Altuve should do a buddy cop show
Those socks will be white alright
Ok this one’s gold
Seems like an odd fit for the team and the player. Will be interesting to see where this transaction and whatever else the White Sox do with their catchers lead.
Teel is starting on IL but Lee is out of options. Weird indeed.
Filling the gap on defense while Teel is recovering, not a big deal at all.
It is in the sense you also already have another C out of options. Lee will probably be DFA’d or traded. Quero is the starter for now (and actually, a better defender than Teel).
I think it is just that, Korey Lee is likely headed to SD or Tampa, and McGuire offers a cheap glove first 2nd catcher that can handle their fragile rotation through May.
Also, McGuire has caught a lot of Anthony Kay’s innings back in Toronto, the pitcher who Quero has the least experience with and who relies on framing more than Smith, Davis or Burke.
The rotation is ok at best imo. We can’t rule out Schultz, H Smith or Tanner McDougal or any unknown arms possibly debuting at some point in the season.
Thanks for mentioning that- think theyre really prioritizing pitching development this season which is then an inexpensive investment. Least he wont hit .140 like Martin Maldonado
Ok at best is putting it nicely
Not sure why they did this when they didn’t need a catcher to begin with.
They beg to differ!
Someone is being move.
Surprised the New York Spankees weren’t interested… things that make you go hmmmm?
In a vacuum, it makes little sense.
Reminds me need to vacuum
That sucks
Yo mama sucks. When she clean up your living space.
Someone is getting dealt
Phase two of Murakami Fever, sign another catcher.
Lee nor Romo are good enough to handle backup catching duties for this team.
They could be trading Teel. Thats the only line that makes sense to me. I would be surprised.
They really aren’t high on Korey Lee.
He was good for the Cubs last year. This might be a situation where the Sox hope he won’t have the chance to excel for them, though, because it would mean persistent injuries ot underperformance by the younger prospects. Or maybe they’re ready to say goodbye to Lee.
$1.2M is a solid commitment for a guy I thought would be cut after a few weeks for Teel. Hmmm…
Someone on the White Sox is going to be traded!
Probable DFA, possible trade.
Was hoping he’d go to the Rangers to be teammates with Cal Quantrill
He loves his Italian beef
Guess we wait for Getz to explain what’s going on. Assuming the end of Kory Lee for the White Sox.
This man’s gonna need a white sock alright. Hand in glove compartment fit! Stay classy Chicago