Max

Stassi

Murphy underwent an MRI last week, and the results confirmed the herniation. The 33-year-old has been plagued by injuries, and there’s a very good chance he’ll miss the beginning of the 2025 season as well. Sam Huff and Max Stassi will battle for the backup backstop job while Murphy recovers.

Murphy was supposed to be healthy this spring after missing most of last year with a knee injury, but a new problem has arisen. Even though Murphy is due $4 million in the second season of a two-year deal, the Giants were planning on throwing open the backup catcher spot, making it a competition between Murphy, Sam Huff and Max Stassi.

The 33-year-old backstop hasn’t played in a big league contest since the 2022 season and missed most of the 2024 campaign after undergoing hip surgery in June. He’ll compete to be the team’s primary backup behind Patrick Bailey heading into the 2025 season.

Stassi instead will get a $500,000 buyout. The 33-year-old catcher has not played in the majors since 2022, and underwent hip surgery in June. He’ll have a chance to battle for a backup job with someone in 2025, assuming he continues his career.

Stassi was originally on the injured list with a hip injury, but then suffered a setback after being hit in the hard; yet, it’s his hip that will end his season. That’s sad news for the veteran, who also missed the first half of last season with a hip injury as well. It’s fair to wonder if this could lead to the end of the 33-year-old’s MLB career.

Stassi being placed on the 60-day IL opens a spot on the 40-man roster, and the White Sox are using it to promote Nick Nastrini. Stassi now won’t be able to return to the Chicago lineup until the end of May at the earliest.

It’s not a serious injury, but will cost Stassi at least a few additional days. He had been getting close to making his White Sox debut, but as of now there’s no timeline for when he’ll resume his minor league rehab assignment.

Stassi opened the season on the injured list with left hip inflammation, but appears to be getting close to making his White Sox debut.

Stassi had a down year offensively with the Angels in 2022, hitting just .180/.267/.303 with nine homers and 30 RBI in 375 plate appearances and missed all of last season while tending to medical issues involving his newborn son. He was traded to the Braves and then from the Braves to the White Sox and looked to be on the verge of competing for a starting job before the hip injury. It now appears the White Sox will split at-bats between two former Astros catchers in Korey Lee and Martin Maldonado; however, Stassi is eligible to be reinstated from the injured list on April 4.

As expected, Stassi is on the move for the second time this offseason after being dealt earlier this week to the Braves from the Angels. Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun Times adds that Atlanta is expected to pay the majority of his $7 million salary for 2024. The 32-year-old defensive specialist provides the White Sox with some extra catching depth with veteran Yasmani Grandal likely to depart via free agency. He didn’t play this past season due to an off-field family health issue.