The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired catcher Matt Thaiss, age 30, from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Dru Baker.
A left-handed hitting backup catcher with a plus walk rate, Thaiss (pronounced “thice”) has hit .212/.382/.294 (18-for-85) with four doubles, one home run, 8 RBI, 23 walks and 21 strikeouts over 35 games with the White Sox this season.
Among all hitters with 100 plate appearances or more, his 20.9 BB% leads all major league hitters, and his 15.9 pct. chase rate is third, trailing SF LaMonte Wade Jr. (14.9 pct.) and NYM Juan Soto (15.