Latest White Sox waiver claim gives the organization more depth and upside behind the plate and raises questions about how the catching depth will sort itself out.
A minor transaction raised more eyebrows than usual on Thursday afternoon.
The Chicago White Sox claimed catcher Drew Romo off waivers from the New York Mets, adding him to the 40-man roster while designating infielder Ben Cowles for assignment.
Romo now becomes the fourth catcher on the White Sox’s 40-man roster — a position where the organization already has notable depth.
Chicago could open the season carrying three catchers at the MLB level in Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee. So why add another catcher to the mix? And what, exactly, stood out about Romo to the White Sox front office?
Romo was a compensatory first-round pick by the Colorado Rockies in the 2020 MLB Draft, selected 35th overall out of The Woodlands High School in Texas.
His defense behind the plate was never in question. Even as an amateur, scouts viewed Romo as a potential future Gold Glove catcher, though there were concerns about whether his bat would translate against advanced pitching.
Early on, those concerns faded. In his first professional season, Romo exceeded expectations offensively, hitting .314 with a .784 OPS. That performance sent him soaring up prospect rankings, and he entered the 2022 season as the No. 2 prospect in the Rockies organization.
From there, Colorado took an aggressive approach with his development. His production dipped somewhat during the 2022 season at High-A Spokane, but by 2023 — at just 21 years old — Romo was holding his own at both Double-A and Triple-A.
The breakthrough came in 2024. After opening the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, Romo posted 14 home runs, 60 RBIs, and an .837 OPS, finally earning his call-up. He made his MLB debut on August 17, 2024, at just 22 years old.
Romo showed some promise early, but once the calendar flipped to September, he struggled in his first taste of Major League Baseball. By season’s end, he had a .176 batting average.
Still, there was reason for optimism.
The 2025 season proved complicated. Romo opened the year on the injured list and didn’t return to game action until mid-May. He spent essentially all of the season in the minors as Hunter Goodman emerged as Colorado’s everyday catcher, earning a National League All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award with 31 home runs.
That breakout, paired with some veterans under contract on the big league roster, effectively blocked Romo’s path to getting playing time. He was recalled in September but appeared in just three games, collecting only three at-bats.
From there, the carousel began.
The Rockies moved on. Romo was designated for assignment by Colorado and claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on December 5. Five days later, Baltimore designated him for assignment as well, and the New York Mets claimed him on December 17.
Now, he lands with the White Sox — another organization with a crowded catching picture. But there may be more opportunity here than it initially appears.
There’s no guarantee Chicago carries Teel, Quero, and Lee all the way through the season. Romo is a stronger defensive catcher than Lee, which could be the only thing that matters for the bench role.
That doesn’t mean Romo is likely to break camp with the team. He still has two minor-league options remaining, while Lee has none — that always plays a part in the Opening Day roster crunch. But it does create flexibility. If the White Sox determine Lee isn’t part of their long-term plan, adding Romo gives them another viable option and potentially makes Lee expendable in a trade.
That possibility can’t be dismissed.
This White Sox offseason has been defined by swinging on upside. Adding Romo fits that pattern. He’s still just 24 years old, has plenty of time to develop offensively, and already brings great defensive value behind the plate.
While most may have shrugged — or raised an eyebrow — at this waiver claim, it’s a move that could prove more relevant than it first appears depending on how the catching situation shakes out and what the White Sox front office values most in their third backstop.