With Kyle Teel returning from the injured list, the White Sox had a difficult decision to make behind the plate. Here's why Edgar Quero, not Drew Romo, was the catcher sent back to Triple-A Charlotte.
In the corresponding move for Kyle Teel's return from the injured list, the Chicago White Sox optioned catcher Edgar Quero to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday morning. It's a move that may have surprised some Sox fans.
A month ago, a demotion felt inevitable for Quero. He wasn't bringing much to the team from an offensive perspective, and after Drew Romo was called up and provided some instant power, Quero felt like a sure bet to be the odd man out once Teel returned. But over the last month, it's become far less of a sure thing.
Romo is 2-for-31 at the plate dating back to May 31. His OPS on the season has dropped to .591, and it was beginning to seem like Quero could stick around given the potential the White Sox have seen from him in the past.
In order to understand why the White Sox made this decision, we actually need to look at the defensive contributions of both catchers.
Keep in mind that Kyle Teel is now going to be the everyday guy for the White Sox. It's not going to be the catching platoon we saw in 2025. Teel is one of the best young catchers in the game, and he'll be in the lineup five or six times a week, filling a massive need for the White Sox and hopefully providing an offensive spark.
With that in mind, Drew Romo is going to serve in a more traditional backup role, something his skill set is better equipped for than Quero's. When it comes to your backup catcher, you always want the best defense possible.
Edgar Quero is in the third percentile among catchers in blocks above average this season. He's in the 11th percentile in pitch framing, and of the 91 catchers in baseball, he is the worst in the league at the ABS challenge system. It's more than just his offense that Quero needs to work on before he'll truly be ready to make an impact at the MLB level.
Romo is an above-average pitch framer. He has a good arm, and he's a significantly better blocker than Quero as well when looking at the metrics. Add in the power in his bat, even if it rarely shows itself, and you've got a more stereotypical profile for a backup catcher.
The other variable at play here is the future of both players. Edgar Quero is a 23-year-old catcher who will still be 23 years old on Opening Day in 2027.
The White Sox have seen some promising potential from him before, and the door is definitely not closed on Quero having a future as a contributor in Chicago. But what he needs right now is to work on his game, and the best way to do that is by getting regular playing time in Triple-A rather than getting into a ballgame once a week at the MLB level.
The defense needs work. The bat needs work. But all hope is not lost if Quero makes the necessary adjustments. Hopefully the White Sox have a plan in place for him, but I do think they made the right call by sending him to Triple-A Charlotte and allowing him to reset rather than watching him ride the bench in Chicago.
