TAMPA -- Looking to upgrade at catcher behind starter Danny Jansen, the Rays acquired backstop Matt Thaiss from the White Sox on Tuesday in exchange for outfield prospect Dru Baker.
Thaiss was not active for the Rays’ 4-2 loss to the Twins on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field, which ended their season-high six-game winning streak and dropped them back to .500 at 27-27. He joined the club before Wednesday afternoon’s series finale, which will be followed by a four-game trip to Houston.
TRADE DETAILS
Rays get: C Matt Thaiss
White Sox get: Minor League OF Dru Baker
With Thaiss officially activated on Wednesday morning, the Rays designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment to make room on their active roster.
Rortvedt was made aware of the situation before Tuesday’s game, he said. But he still played all nine innings behind the plate before sharing some emotional goodbyes with his teammates in the clubhouse afterward.
“It’s tough. I honestly wouldn't respect someone who didn't play,” Rortvedt said. “This team means too much to me. Yeah, it was hard. Got it out early, but it's one last game to compete.
“I've been calling this place home for a short time, but it's been home. I live here. These are some of my best friends on the team. So it sucks. If I were to sit here and say that I don't understand the move, I'd be lying. I'd be delusional. … I'm not going to make any excuse. I'm just grateful to be around these guys and be part of this team.”
White Sox general manager Chris Getz told reporters the Rays “have been in the hunt to improve their catching for the last couple weeks.” Chicago had some depth to spare with Korey Lee coming off the injured list to join catcher Edgar Quero, plus prospect Kyle Teel at Triple-A Charlotte.
That led the Rays to Thaiss (pronounced “thice”), a 30-year-old who slashed .212/.382/.294 with a 99 OPS+, one home run, four doubles, eight RBIs and more walks (23) than strikeouts (21) in 35 games with the White Sox this season.
In parts of seven Major League seasons with the Angels and White Sox, the New Jersey native -- a first-round pick out of Virginia in the 2016 Draft -- has slashed .209/.321/.337 over 280 games.
“From what we've heard, he's a guy that gives you a really good at-bat. Think that he can help us by adding some good defense and just his approach at the plate,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday afternoon. “He's kind of been up and down, [with] different clubs, but I just heard from one of his former managers that raved about the teammate [he is] and the way that he works with pitchers. So, excited for that.”
As a left-handed-hitting catcher, Thaiss will take the role held to this point by Rortvedt, who has been Jansen’s backup this season.
Rortvedt joined the Rays just before Opening Day last spring in a three-way trade with the Yankees and Marlins. He capitalized on a hot start to become Tampa Bay’s primary catcher last year, wound up slashing .228/.317/.303 with 31 RBIs in 112 games and quickly endeared himself to his teammates.
But after an 0-for-3 performance on Tuesday, Rortvedt was slashing just .095/.186/.111 in 26 games this season. The 27-year-old said he understood the decision, as difficult as it was to handle personally.
“I'm extremely grateful. Can't say enough about the organization, about the people here. It means a lot,” Rortvedt said of his time with Tampa Bay. “The opportunity to be able to grow, to be able to be myself in the clubhouse, to be accepted the way I was, it's meant a lot.
“I understand the move. It sucks for myself, but the team comes first. They're going to make the move that makes the most sense for them moving forward.”
To make room for Thaiss on their 40-man roster, the Rays transferred rehabbing center fielder Jonny DeLuca (right shoulder strain) to the 60-day injured list. DeLuca played two games for the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Rays to begin a Minor League rehab assignment and was expected to join Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, but he will be pulled back from that assignment to seek additional evaluations.
This was Baker’s fifth season in the Rays’ system. The 25-year-old was picked in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft out of Texas Tech and worked his way up to Triple-A Durham, where he was slashing .245/.344/.302 in 17 games this season. He has been on the seven-day IL since April 22 due to a left groin strain.