Edgar Quero’s struggles in every facet of the game have become impossible for the Chicago White Sox to ignore.
It seems as if every time Edgar Quero steps on the field for the Chicago White Sox, he hurts the team. A disastrous 2026 season for the 23-year-old catcher started with his struggles at the plate, but it has become all-consuming, impacting every facet of the game.
There was no better example than Monday night against the New York Yankees. Quero actually recorded an uncharacteristic hit, finishing 1-for-4 with a single. But he may have cost Chicago as many as two runs with his defense alone.
After the Yankees rallied to tie the game at 3-3, Quero made a lazy play behind the plate and stopped paying attention to Jazz Chisholm, who made a heads-up baserunning play to steal third base while Quero lobbed the ball back to his pitcher. That moved Chisholm to third with one out, and he later scored the go-ahead run on a groundout, a run that does not score if not for Quero's mental error and poor defense.
In the top of the seventh, Quero burned Chicago's final challenge on the first pitch of the inning, challenging a ball that was well outside the strike zone in a low stakes situation. He then threw the ball into center field while trying to backpick Amed Rosario, who easily advanced to third and later scored on a two-out single. Chicago may have had a chance to keep that run from scoring had Quero not allowed Rosario to reach third base.
In the top of the eighth, the White Sox nearly allowed another run because Quero missed the tag on Anthony Volpe on a play at the plate. The ball beat Volpe by quite some time, but Quero whiffed on his first tag attempt. Thankfully, the replay was inconclusive, allowing the White Sox to retain the out.
The game was a true representation of what Edgar Quero has been for the 2026 White Sox: A poor hitter, fielder, baserunner, game caller and receiver. He is bad at using the ABS challenge system. His baseball IQ and effort have both been lacking.
Quero has been bad in every facet of the game this year, and he has been costing the White Sox games in the process.
Chicago is in the middle of a gauntlet stretch of its schedule as the trade deadline approaches. The White Sox have now lost three of their last four games. They have three more against the New York Yankees before traveling to face the AL-best Tampa Bay Rays in their final series before the trade deadline.
And while the White Sox remain in first place with a 2.0-game lead in the AL Central, you cannot help but feel like they are on the back foot right now. They look overmatched because a team like the Yankees does not have a player making the simple mistakes Quero made on Monday night. Even when the White Sox take a lead, that lead doesn't feel safe. Even when they create offensive opportunities, they have not been cashing in.
It is for these reasons that GM Chris Getz can no longer afford to wait around. It may even be beneficial for the White Sox to pull the plug on Edgar Quero before the deadline. Unfortunately, that is an unrealistic option, considering they would have to add someone to the 40-man roster to replace him.
But the clock is ticking. The White Sox need a catcher. They cannot, in good faith, continue playing Quero and expect to have a legitimate shot at winning the AL Central, let alone competing in the postseason.
