The White Sox introduced right this moment that catcher Seby Zavala has been reinstated from the injured checklist and designated for task. He was on a rehab task, working his manner again from an indirect pressure, however the membership doesn’t appear to have room for him on the roster.
Zavala, 30, has been serving because the backup catcher to Yasmani Grandal for a lot of this 12 months. Defensively, he’s been fairly robust, with a tally of seven Defensive Runs Saved in simply 464 2/3 innings. Solely six backstops are forward of him in that class this 12 months, and Jose Trevino is the one a kind of to take action with a lighter workload. He additionally has a optimistic grade from the FanGraphs framing metric, this 12 months and every earlier season as effectively.
Sadly, he’s paired that robust protection with a horrible season on offense. He has walked in simply 5.7% of his journeys to the plate and struck out in 38.6% of them. His .155/.207/.304 batting line quantities to a wRC+ of simply 34, indicating he’s been 66% worse than the league common hitter. Solely Austin Hedges and Brenton Doyle have a decrease wRC+ this 12 months, amongst hitters with no less than 170 plate appearances.
Zavala landed on the injured checklist a few month in the past attributable to a left indirect pressure. In his absence, the membership has been giving some enjoying time to 25-year-old Korey Lee, who can also be hitting poorly however in simply eight video games this 12 months to this point. Zavala not too long ago started a rehab task however it appears the membership goes to proceed with Grandal and Lee getting the enjoying time down the stretch, as they determine proceed subsequent 12 months. Since Zavala is out of choices and the membership apparently didn’t wish to put him again on the energetic roster, that left them little selection however to bump him off the 40-man.
Regardless of his apparent struggles with the bat, it’s a bit stunning to see the Sox minimize him unfastened. Grandal is an impending free agent, that means they’ve a query mark on the catcher place subsequent 12 months. They are going to be hoping for Lee to take the job and run with it however he’s hitting simply .045/.160/.045 to this point this 12 months and can want a backup even when he does get some runway to show himself subsequent 12 months. Zavala has additionally proven higher offensive outcomes previously, together with a line of .270/.347/.382 simply final 12 months. That was fuelled by a .404 batting common on balls in play however nonetheless made him a invaluable part-time participant when mixed together with his glovework.
The Sox will now put Zavala on waivers within the coming days, the place it’s potential he may garner curiosity as a glove-first backup, although his out-of-options standing means he would wish an energetic roster spot. He could be ineligible to hitch that membership for the postseason because it’s after the August 31 cutoff, but when some group does put in a declare, they will management Zavala for 4 extra seasons past this one. If he have been to go by way of waivers unclaimed, he would have the fitting to elect free company attributable to a earlier profession outright.
Going ahead, the Sox will maybe be looking out for assist behind the plate this winter. As talked about, Grandal is ready to depart without cost company, that means Lee and Carlos Pérez would be the solely backstops on the 40-man roster quickly. Each of these guys will nonetheless have an possibility 12 months remaining, maybe permitting the Sox to carry a veteran into the combination. Prospect Edgar Quero has but to succeed in Triple-A however is enjoying effectively at Double-A and may transfer into the long-term image sooner or later.
