The White Sox made a quiet but intriguing roster move, claiming catcher Drew Romo off waivers from the Mets and designating infielder Ben Cowles for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Romo, once the 35th overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Rockies, has seen his stock dip a bit in recent seasons, but there’s still plenty to like about the 22-year-old backstop. Early in his pro career, Romo flashed the kind of all-around potential that had scouts buzzing – a switch-hitting catcher with defensive chops and a promising bat. But while the glove has mostly held up, the bat hasn’t kept pace, especially as he’s climbed the ladder.
After a solid 2023 campaign split between High-A and Double-A, Romo hit a bump in Triple-A Albuquerque. That’s a hitter’s haven by any measure, but Romo’s .264/.329/.409 slash line in 2025 translated to just a 75 wRC+, well below league average. And the strikeouts are becoming a concern – his K-rate jumped from 17.8% in 2024 to 25.8% last season, suggesting some real struggles with swing-and-miss at the upper levels.
The Rockies gave him a brief taste of the majors, but it didn’t go well. In 56 plate appearances, Romo hit just .167/.196/.222 with a 37.5% strikeout rate.
That’s a small sample size, sure, but it highlights the gap between his defensive readiness and his offensive development. Still, he brings a strong arm and steady glove to the table, and with two minor league option years left, he offers the White Sox a flexible depth piece at a premium position.
Chicago’s catching situation is already one of the more interesting in baseball. Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero – both top-100 prospects as recently as last year – are on the big league roster, and both showed flashes in 2025.
Quero held his own in his first full MLB season, hitting .268/.333/.356 over 403 plate appearances. Solid, if unspectacular.
Teel, on the other hand, looked like a potential long-term answer behind the dish. In 297 plate appearances, he slashed .273/.375/.411 with a 125 wRC+ and an impressive 12.5% walk rate. Add in the fact that he grades out as a better defender than Quero, and it’s clear Teel has the inside track on the starting job heading into 2026.
Then there’s Korey Lee, a 27-year-old who’s out of options. If he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster – or isn’t traded – the Sox will have to designate him for assignment.
That makes Romo’s presence even more valuable. He gives the team a defensively sound, optionable catcher who can bounce between Triple-A and the majors if needed, especially if Lee’s roster spot becomes expendable.
It’s worth noting that other teams have shown interest in both Teel and Quero this offseason. That’s not surprising – quality young catchers with years of team control don’t grow on trees.
But there’s no indication the White Sox are actively shopping either player. The Romo claim looks more like a depth move than a precursor to a bigger trade.
As for Ben Cowles, he’s the odd man out – at least for now. The 25-year-old infielder has bounced around a bit since being drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round, landing in Chicago by way of the Cubs in late 2025. He hasn’t made his MLB debut yet, but he’s shown flashes of value in the minors.
Cowles split last season between the Triple-A affiliates for both Chicago teams, putting up a .235/.300/.371 line with nine homers, 18 steals, and a 28.8% strikeout rate. The bat didn’t quite click, but the glove and versatility are what give him a shot – he can handle shortstop, second, and third, and that kind of defensive flexibility is always in demand.
It’s also worth remembering that Cowles was much more productive at Double-A in 2024, where he hit .286/.372/.457 with nine home runs and 14 steals over 92 games. He also posted a 10.4% walk rate and kept his strikeouts in check (17.7%). With two minor league options still in play, there’s a decent chance another team takes a flier on him as a utility depth piece.
Bottom line: the White Sox are shuffling the deck a bit behind the plate, adding Romo as a low-risk, potentially high-reward depth option. He may not be ready to contribute offensively at the big league level just yet, but the defense is there, and with Teel and Quero holding down the fort, Chicago can afford to be patient.
