White Sox acquire catcher Matt Thaiss from Cubs

The White Sox acquired catcher Matt Thaiss from the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Thaiss, 29, who could make the Opening Day roster as a backup to catcher Korey Lee, spent the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Angels. The Cubs acquired him for cash considerations on Nov. 20.

Thaiss, a left-handed hitter regarded as average at best defensively, batted .204/.323/.299 with two homers in 56 games and 176 plate appearances last season. He's a career .208/.313/.342 hitter with 22 homers in 245 games over six seasons with the Angels. He has appeared in 142 games at catcher, 47 at third base, 31 at first, one at second and one in left field.

He was an Angels first-round draft pick in 2016 out of Virginia, the same school attended by top Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel, who was acquired last week from the Red Sox in a trade for Garrett Crochet.

Teel, who played at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in the Red Sox organization last season, could reach the majors this season.

The Cubs signed catcher Carson Kelly to a a two-year free agent deal last week, making Thaiss expendable.

The Sox' 40-man roster is at 40.