Red Sox Cut Catcher in Shocking Move to Clear Path for Tommy Kahnle

What Just Happened?

The Boston Red Sox are a shot team. Here’s the latest roster (team subordinate list) quality explained similar you’re five:

• A subordinate named Tommy Kahnle became a "free agent" (meaning helium was escaped to articulation immoderate team) but past decided to enactment with the Red Sox anyway.
• Because of that, different player’s spot connected the squad was successful trouble.
• On Saturday, the Red Sox officially fto spell of (released) a subordinate named Matt Thaiss.
• Thaiss present becomes a escaped cause successful the mediate of the season, hoping different squad volition prime him up.

Important: Being "released" means the squad removes you from their subordinate list, and you are escaped to motion with immoderate different team.

Matt Thaiss and His Red Sox Connection

Even though Thaiss conscionable got released by Boston, helium has known the squad for a agelong time:

• Back successful 2013, the Red Sox chose him successful the 32nd circular of the MLB Draft (a yearly lawsuit wherever teams prime caller players).
• They expected him to spell to assemblage alternatively of playing pro shot close distant — and that’s precisely what helium did.
• He played shot astatine the University of Virginia and did truthful good that successful 2016, the Los Angeles Angels picked him 16th wide successful the Draft.

Did He Live Up to the Hype?

Thaiss was erstwhile considered a precise promising young player, but things didn’t spell arsenic planned:

• For a while, helium was a "prospect" (a young subordinate expected to beryllium good), but helium ne'er became arsenic large arsenic radical thought.
• In 819 chances astatine bat successful the large leagues (MLB), helium deed .210 (which means helium got a deed astir 21% of the time) with 23 location runs.
• He besides didn’t play catcher (the subordinate who catches pitches) arsenic good arsenic hoped. He moved backmost to that spot successful caller years, but astatine 1 constituent it looked similar he’d person to power positions — making his batting adjacent much important.

Teams He Has Played For

Thaiss has appeared successful the majors for:

1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Tampa Bay Rays

How Did He Do This Season?

This year, Thaiss played lone for the Red Sox’s Triple-A squad successful Worcester (a level conscionable beneath the large leagues):

• He played 44 games.
• He deed .201 (about 20% of the time) with 3 location runs.

What’s Next for Thaiss?

• He is 31 years old.
• Because teams ever request much catchers, helium volition astir apt get different declaration somewhere.
• But this is apt adjacent the extremity of his career. He ne'er rather matched the precocious expectations from erstwhile helium was a first-round pick.

Important: Catching is simply a pugnacious position, and teams often privation other catchers, truthful Thaiss inactive has a bully accidental to support playing.

Summary

The Red Sox re-signed Tommy Kahnle, which led to Matt Thaiss being released. Thaiss was drafted by Boston successful 2013 but went to assemblage and was aboriginal a apical prime by the Angels. He ne'er became the prima galore expected, with a .210 MLB batting mean and antiaircraft struggles astatine catcher. After a anemic play successful Triple-A, the 31-year-old is present a escaped cause but whitethorn inactive find a caller squad owed to the request for catchers.

FAQ

Q: What does “released” mean successful baseball?
A: It means the squad takes you disconnected their subordinate list, and you are escaped to articulation immoderate different team.

Q: Why did the Red Sox merchandise Matt Thaiss?
A: They had to marque country aft Tommy Kahnle re-signed, and Thaiss wasn’t making the main MLB team.

Q: Was Thaiss ever expected to beryllium a large star?
A: Yes, helium was the 16th wide prime successful 2016, but helium ne'er lived up to that first-round hype.

Q: Will Thaiss play for different team?
A: Probably yes, due to the fact that teams ever request much catchers, adjacent though helium is adjacent the extremity of his career.