It’s fair to say that the catcher position hasn’t gone as planned for the White Sox in 2026. Starter Kyle Teel didn’t make his season debut until June 22nd after hamstring and knee injuries kept him on the sidelines, and he played just 19 games before an ankle injury put him back on the shelf. With Teel likely out until September and backups Edgar Quero and Drew Romo struggling mightily, the White Sox turned to the trade market, adding Joey Bart in a trade with the Braves. Unfortunately, the brutal luck continued, and a broken hand in just his third game with the White Sox will keep Bart out for at least a month, putting the White Sox back at square one. After more roster shuffling, the White Sox may have found their solution in a former AL Central rival.
Jake Rogers, 31, was originally selected by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 2016 draft. As a prospect, he was dealt to the Detroit Tigers in the famous Justin Verlander blockbuster in 2017. Rogers made his big league debut for the Tigers in 2019, but didn’t assume a regular role until 2023, where he slugged 21 home runs and posted a .730 OPS in 107 games. The Tigers hoped Rogers would be their starting catcher moving forward, but he took a step back in 2024 and his OPS dropped to .607. Rogers remained with Detroit but was relegated to a backup role in each of the past two seasons, and he’d posted just a .567 OPS in 36 games this season before Detroit designated him for assignment.
Rogers was traded to the Orioles on July 30th and quickly flipped to the Red Sox in the deal that sent Adley Rutschman to Boston. In three games with the Red Sox, Rogers went 3-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs, but was designated for assignment with Adley Rutschman’s return. He’ll now be available for all 29 other teams to claim on waivers, and the White Sox could strongly consider making the move.
Jake Rogers would be an upgrade behind the plate for the White Sox
Adding Jake Rogers to the roster isn’t likely to massively impact the White Sox’ outlook for the season, but his career .653 OPS would be an upgrade over Quero and Romo, and his familiarity with the Tigers pitching staff could benefit the White Sox hitters. The Tigers enter Wednesday just two and a half games behind the White Sox for first place in the AL Central, and the White Sox will begin a crucial series in Detroit this weekend, with a four-game series in Chicago to come in September. Rogers has at least shown intriguing power and proficiency in handling a pitching staff in the past, and he could hold down the fort on the roster until Teel and/or Bart return.
Jake Rogers makes it back-to-back games with a homer! pic.twitter.com/3dEpNoJePz
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2026
Edgar Quero hit his third home run of the season on Tuesday night after reaching base three times on Sunday, so there’s a chance he’s finally starting to break out of his year-long slump. Even if this is the case, Drew Romo is hitting under .130 and could easily be replaced on the roster. Quero’s strong week shouldn’t inhibit the White Sox from making a move.
At this stage of the season, it’s very unlikely that a team will find an impact player on the waiver wire, but improving in the margins is what all contending teams should be setting out to do. We’ll see if the White Sox take advantage of this opportunity.
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