White Sox announce signing of catcher Omar Narvaez Signed a deal with the minor leagues and an invitation to major league spring training. The veteran defender is represented by ISE Baseball.
Narvaez, who turns 33 next month, has had a rather unusual career. Once a bat-first catcher with defensive question marks, he turned that image around and became a solid defender with a tepid bat. He had no success in either category last year and ended up spending most of the season in the minors.
From 2016 to 2019, he played with the White Sox and Mariners, slashing .276/.361/.411 for a 113 wRC+. But due to his poor defensive metrics, he only had 3.1 wins above replacement in 353 games during that span, according to FanGraphs calculations. He then spent 2020-2022 with the Brewers, hitting .233/.318/.350 with an 84 wRC+, but posting 4.6 fWAR in 247 games thanks to his stellar play behind the plate.
The Mets signed him to a two-year, $15MM contract expiring in 2023 that ultimately fell through. A serious left calf strain sidelined him in the first year of his contract. He played only 49 games throughout the season and hit just .211/.283/.297. He started 2024 with a dismal .154/.191/.185 line in 69 games. He was released in early June and signed a minor league contract with the Astros, then hit .196/.325/.304 in 169 games in Triple-A.
It’s obviously a tough time for Narvaez, but he has a track record of success both offensively and defensively in the majors in the past, though usually not at the same time. He’s a smart passer for the Red Sox, who have little to prove behind the plate. They currently have two receivers on their 40-man roster: Li Kerui and Matt Tice. Lee is a former rookie who could still break out, but has hit .188/.227/.313 in his career so far. Theis, signed in a cash deal last month, has been slightly better at the plate but isn’t considered a strong defender.
The club’s future may lie in Edgar Crow or Kyle Till Or both. Quero acquired from Angels Lucas Giolito/Reynaldo Lopez Trades and Teel from the Red Sox Garrett Crochet trade. Both are consensus top-100 prospects, but they may not be immediate solutions. Neither made the 40-man roster. Quero played in just 26 games at the 3A level, while Teel had 28 games. Narvaez gives the club an experienced back-up that they can rely on if younger players get injured or hit speed bumps.
