The Chicago White Sox acquired catcher Matt Thaiss from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. It's already the second time Thaiss has been traded this offseason, with the Cubs landing him last month in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop was no longer needed after the Cubbies signed veteran Carson Kelly to a two-year deal to serve as the backup for Miguel Amaya. Thaiss should have a better path to playing time with the rebuilding Pale Hose. He'll mainly be competing with Korey Lee in spring training, although Chicago also has prospect Edgar Quero waiting in the wings. The former first-rounder has hit just .208/.313/.342 with a .655 OPS, 22 homers and 79 RBI in 245 career MLB games over six seasons. At best, he's likely to be a part-time catching option for the White Sox in 2025.
The Chicago Cubs acquired catcher Matt Thaiss on Wednesday from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations, while RHP Trey Wingenter was designated for assignment (DFA) in a corresponding move. A week ago, Thaiss was DFAd after the Angels signed veteran Travis d'Arnaud as their backup catcher to Logan O'Hoppe. The Cubs saw too much offensive futility out of their backstops in 2024 and are now without veterans Yan Gomes and Christian Bethancourt after they became free agents in June and November respectively. Thaiss figures to slot in as the veteran presence behind Miguel Amaya, and this could further delay the debut of 21-year-old star prospect Moises Ballesteros unless the Cubs bring him up as a DH. Thaiss made his major league debut in 2019 but is a career .208 hitter with a career .292 wOBA and 83 wRC+, so he's off the fantasy radar for now and he may not be able to hold off Ballesteros long.
Los Angles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss was designated for assignment after the club added veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud on a one-year deal in free agency earlier this week. If Thaiss isn't picked up off waivers by another club, he'll have the option of returning to the Angels or choosing free agency. The 29-year-old was the 16th overall pick in 2016 out of the University of Virginia, but he never lived up to his draft stock. Thaiss hit only .204/.323/.299 with two home runs, 16 RBI and three stolen bases in 57 games played in 2024 while serving in a backup role behind Logan O'Hoppe. In his six seasons with the Halos, O'Hoppe had a .208/.313/.342 slash line with a weak .655 OPS, 22 homers, 79 RBI and six stolen bases. He'll likely latch on with another team, potentially on a minor-league deal, but Thaiss' ceiling these days is probably as a second-string catcher.
Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss (shoulder) will start a throwing program "very shortly," manager Phil Nevin said on Friday. Nevin also said he expects to see Thaiss return at some point before the end of the season. The 28-year-old backstop jammed his right shoulder on a slide into third base on Aug. 19 and tried to play through it before being placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 25 with right-shoulder inflammation. He said his shoulder affects him the most when he's throwing, so his throwing program will be a big test to see if he can make it back in September. Until Thaiss is able to return, the Halos will roll with Logan O'Hoppe as their primary catcher and Chad Wallach as his backup.
Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss (shoulder) jammed his shoulder on a slide into third base on Aug. 19 and tried to play through it before being put on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 25 with right-shoulder inflammation. Thaiss said the injury affects him most when he throws, but he said he's hopeful it's a short-term injury. The 28-year-old backstop underwent further testing that revealed no structural damage to his shoulder, manager Phil Nevin said on Monday. Barring a setback as he ramps up activities, Thaiss should rejoin the Angels as a catching option early next month. In a career-high 90 games played in 2023, he's hitting .223/.330/.344 with a career-high-tying eight home runs, six doubles, 30 RBI and 31 runs scored in 291 plate appearances.
Los Angeles Angels backstop Matt Thaiss is absent from the lineup for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. The 28-year-old is putting up solid numbers with a .269 average, three home runs, 19 runs, 19 RBI, and one steal across 50 games. However, his .620 OPS against southpaws has limited his playing time, and with lefty Clayton Kershaw on the mound, Thais will take a seat. Chad Wallach will take care of the catching duties instead and bat seventh. The 31-year-old is hitting with power like never before, going deep six times in just 32 games while batting .263. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues may want to use Wallach as a streaming option in hopes he can keep mashing.
Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Texas Rangers and a left-handed starter. Thaiss has gone hitless in eight at-bats in his last three games, so it's time for the Angels to try someone new behind the dish. He's hitting just .222 (10-for-45) with two homers, four RBI and 18 strikeouts in 19 games for the Halos. Kurt Suzuki is getting the nod behind the plate on Thursday and will hit seventh in the batting order against Rangers left-hander Martin Perez. Suzuki is hitting just .179 on the year with four home runs in 134 at-bats. He has just two hits in 29 at-bats against southpaws in 2022, with one of them clearing the fences.
Los Angeles Angels corner infielder Matt Thaiss, who was originally drafted as a catcher in 2016, has been working to increase his versatility and has been catching again at Triple-A Salt Lake. Thaiss was converted to first base after being drafted, but he's also seen action at third base, second base and in the outfield. The 26-year-old saw 25 plate appearances in eight games for the Angels last year, hitting .143 (3-for-21) with a home run and one RBI. So far this year in the minors, he is slashing .300/.472/.475 with a home run, two doubles, one triple and six RBI in 53 plate appearances over 13 games for Salt Lake. The left-handed hitter can continue to be ignored in fantasy leagues, and he'll be just bench depth at the majors if he's called up at any point this year.
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Matt Thaiss will look to shake loose from a 1-for-20 slump heading into this week's fantasy action. Thaiss hit five home runs and posted a .600 slugging percentage in the month of July but is off to a very slow start this month. The rookie has struck out seven times over his last 20 at-bats and will need to make adjustments at the plate. Thaiss has dynasty value but, right now, cannot help fantasy rosters win games.
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Matt Thaiss went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the Angels 6-1 win over the Tigers on Tuesday. Thaiss is not in the lineup Wednesday but has really opened some eyes since being called up on July 3. Thaiss has been fantastic over the last week, going 8-for-17 (.470) over his last five starts with four home runs and eight runs batted in. Thaiss is not in the lineup Wednesday and will have to continue to compete with teammate Albert Pujols and DH Shohei Ohtani for at-bats. Thaiss is not worth the fantasy gamble, except in dynasty leagues, right now but could further ascend if he continues to produce.
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