The Giants agreed to a minor league contract with him Max Stassias first reported by Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton (on X) and subsequently seen in MLB.com’s catcher’s work log. It’s possible that Wasserman’s client will receive an undrafted invite to major league camp.
Stassi has not appeared in the majors since 2022. He began the ’23 season on the disabled list with a strained left hip and was eventually placed on the restricted list as he dealt with a family issue. (The Stassis later announced that their son was born premature and spent weeks in intensive care.) He was traded twice last season, from the Angels to the Braves to the White Sox in a series of salary-driven moves.
The Sox intended to give Stassi a look as their backup catcher, but he re-injured his hip and had season-ending surgery in June. Chicago paid a $500K buyout in lieu of a $7.5MM option, ending his tenure with the White Sox without a playoff. Back-to-back losing seasons made it clear that he would need to accept a minor league contract.
Stassi’s recent healthy season has been a disappointment. He hit .180/.267/.303 in 375 plate appearances in 2022. The previous two years were so amazing. Stassi combined to slash .250/.333/.452 during 2020-21. He rated as an above-average receiver and looked like a #1 late-blooming catcher. The Halos signed Stassi to a $17.5MM extension through Spring Training 2022, though his numbers dropped off almost immediately afterward.
Patrick Bailey locked in as San Francisco’s starting pitcher. Backup work may be taken. Tom Murphy had an injury-plagued season in year one of a two-year free agent contract. Blake Sabol He is on the 40-man roster but has a questionable defensive profile.
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