GLENDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox’ decision to sign catcher Reese McGuire to a one-year, $1.2 million contract was curious.
Kyle Teel is rehabbing from a Grade 2 hamstring strain but is expected back early in the season, and Korey Lee and Edgar Quero are more than adequate.
But manager Will Venable said Lee wouldn’t be on the major-league roster.
‘‘You look at Quero moving into that top spot and how to best complement [McGuire], with Quero really doing most of his damage from the right side,’’ Venable said. ‘‘To be able to get a left-handed-hitting catcher to support [Quero] we thought was really important for us to get off to a good start.’’
Lee, whom the Sox acquired from the Astros at the 2023 trade deadline for reliever Kendall Graveman, was scheduled to catch Sunday against the Mariners. Lee was the Sox’ primary catcher in 2024, batting .210/.244/.347. He appeared in only 25 games last season after the Sox acquired Teel from the Red Sox and Quero established himself as a major-leaguer.
Lee’s work behind the plate was never as advanced as his hitting. He ranked near the bottom in most advanced fielding metrics.
Venable overlapped with McGuire in Boston in 2022, when Venable was the Red Sox’ bench coach.
‘‘He knows how to handle a pitching staff,’’ Venable said. ‘‘He knows how to navigate opposing hitters. Does a nice job at the plate. Has unlocked some power there recently.’’
McGuire returns for his second stint on the South Side, where he appeared in 53 games in 2022. McGuire, who was released by the Brewers on Sunday, played for the Cubs last season, hitting nine home runs in 133 at-bats.
The Sox are big on framing, and McGuire fits the bill after finishing in the 80th percentile in the metric last season, according to Baseball Savant.
Walking into the Sox’ facility, McGuire ran into familiar faces such as second baseman Chase Meidroth — McGuire’s brother Shane played with Meidroth in college — and former manager-turned-adviser Tony La Russa. He said wasn’t part
