3 new potential backup catchers for the Chicago White Sox

Kevan Smith

Kevan Smith returning to the Chicago White Sox could make some sense for 2022.

The White Sox already tried bringing back Adam Eaton for a reunion last season with disastrous results. Could Kevan Smith fare better in a return to the Southside?

Many fans forget that Smith was actually a solid player during his three-year tenure with the White Sox. In 2017, he batted .283 with 21 extra-base hits. The following season, he hit .292. He and Omar Narvaez combined for the best offensive numbers between every backstop in baseball.

The 33-year old has hit for average for the majority of his career. Heading into 2021, Smith had a career .272/.321/.384 slash line. However, Smith does not hit for much power. In six major league seasons, he has only hit 13 round-trippers.

In the 2020 offseason, he signed a minor-league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. Two weeks later he traded to the Atlanta Braves and logged 101 plate appearances. He hit just .165 with a 28.7 strikeout rate during that time and cleared outright waivers before electing for free agency last August.

Smith can still provide a lot of organizations with some catching depth and for a minor league deal, he is worth bringing in to compete for the job. He hasn’t hit the same since leaving Chicago so a return to Guaranteed Rate Field could be what he needs to revive his career.