Max

Stassi

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.

As they did with Evan White and Marco Gonzales after their deal with the Mariners earlier in the week, the Braves plan to continue their wheeling and dealing by moving Stassi elsewhere in the coming days. The 32-year-old backstop still has decent power, so there should be other teams interested even after his down season in 2023. His ultimate fantasy value — if any — will be determined by where he ends up and how much playing time he stands to see.

Stassi, 32, had a down year offensively with the Angels in 2023 — hitting just .180/.267/.303 with nine homers and 30 RBI in 375 plate appearances. With the Braves already having a terrific catching tandem of Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud, it’s likely that Stassi will soon be on the move elsewhere.

Interesting. The Braves already have a dynamic duo behind the plate in Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud, so this could indicate that Alex Anthopolous has something else brewing as well — perhaps to flip Stassi elsewhere the same way that he did with Marco Gonzales and now Evan White after his deal with the M’s to acquire Jarred Kelenic. Fletcher should fall into a utility infielder role with the Braves.

Stassi also had a hip injury during spring training that put him on the injured list, but this has, obviously, been the far greater concern that led to him missing the entire year. Max’s son, who was born at 1.5 pounds, remains in NICU for the time being, but mom and dad “can’t freaking wait to bring Jackson home.”