Deadspin | Rays obtain veteran C Matt Thaiss from White Sox

May 7, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Matt Thaiss (29) gets set behind home plate with home plate umpire Sean Barber (29) in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired veteran catcher Matt Thaiss from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for minor league outfielder Dru Baker.

Thiass, 30, batted .212 (18-for-85) with one homer and eight RBIs in 35 games for the White Sox this season. He had a .294 slugging percentage in his first campaign with Chicago.

Thaiss spent his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He has a .209 career batting average with 23 homers and 87 RBIs in 280 games.

Baker, 25, was batting .245 with one homer and three RBIs in 17 games for Triple-A Durham. He sustained an adductor injury more than a month ago and has been on the injured list since April 22. He also played in six games at the Rookie level this season and went 1-for-15.

Last season, Baker stole 42 bases for Double-A Montgomery and batted .288 with no homers and 44 RBIs.

Chicago activated catcher Korey Lee (ankle) from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday’s game against the New York Mets. Lee last played on April 9 when he sprained his left ankle against the Cleveland Guardians.

Lee, 26, went 5-for-15 (.333) with one RBI in nine games before his injury. Last season, Lee batted .210 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in 125 games for Chicago.

The Rays transferred outfielder Jonny DeLuca (right shoulder strain) to the 60-day injured list to make room for Thaiss on the 40-man roster.

–Field Level Media