You thought the White Sox had figured out their catcher problem, didn’t you? Not so fast. Kyle Teel’s ankle injury in July had left the White Sox in desperate need of a solution behind the plate, and the team turned to the trade market on deadline day to get some help. The team traded RHP Duncan Davitt to the Atlanta Braves for Joey Bart in hopes of stabilizing a position they’ve seen very little production from all year. That lasted exactly two games. During Thursday’s frustrating loss to the Red Sox, Bart was hit by a pitch in the hand and exited the game. The White Sox later revealed a fracture in his finger that will keep him out for an extended period of time. The team is now in a really tough spot and left wondering where to pivot. Here are 3 possible solutions.
Ride it out and pray for Teel’s quick return
In the immediate term, at least, it seems like the White Sox are rolling with Drew Romo and Edgar Quero. Quero will be promoted before Friday night’s game just days after being optioned, and he’ll look to finally find his groove at and behind the plate. This is easily the least exciting option and it’s tough to expect more production than they’ve gotten from their pair of backstops in the early going, but it could be the path of least resistance if Kyle Teel’s return is expected sooner rather than later. GM Chris Getz expressed confidence that Teel would return this year, and even listed September 1st as a target date. It’s too early to tell whether that date is realistic, but regardless, the White Sox will have to survive the next three weeks with minimal production should this be the route they choose.
Promote Eric Haase
Consider me confused about why the White Sox would even bother signing Eric Haase if they had no plans of promoting him in this exact situation. They agreed to a minor league deal with Haase last week and he was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte, where he’s performed well in his first few games. Haase is the furthest thing from an All-Star at the catcher position, but he’s posted some solid big league seasons in a regular role before, and he at least has enough power upside to be a stronger option at the plate than Romo and Quero. I understand that adding Haase to the big league team would require a 40-man roster move, but there are plenty of players on the roster that could be designated for assignment to make it worthwhile. The team has gotten a very clear extended sample size of Romo and Quero, and the overwhelming result is that it doesn’t work. I’m not sure what more they need to see to justify trying something else. It’s not a guarantee that Eric Haase is going to produce behind the plate, but it’s worth a try at this point.
Eric Haase has two home runs, and the @SFGiants have a lead! pic.twitter.com/CvZwCl2azO
— MLB (@MLB) May 13, 2026
Sign Andrew Knizner
Veteran catcher Andrew Knizner, 31, has opted out of his minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox and will now become a free agent. The White Sox could have interest in adding him to their big league roster if they're looking for an external solution to their problem. Knizner began his big league career with the Cardinals, where he spent five seasons as a backup for future Hall-of-Famer Yadier Molina. His best season came in 2023, where he hit ten home runs and posted a .712 OPS for St. Louis. Knizner has also spent time with the Rangers and Giants, and has had a solid season at the Triple-A level between the Red Sox and Rockies organizations this season. While he's never graded out super impressively on defense or offense, he represents a change-of-pace for an organization badly in need of something different at the catcher position. His market will be worth keeping an eye on.
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