Among the many messes plaguing the White Sox right now, there’s at least one problem that qualifies as a good one: catcher.

Baseball-Reference tracks a stat called Wins Above Average (WAA), which, like bWAR, measures player value—but with a tougher standard to get above zero. More useful still, they break it down by position, giving a revealing look at teams like the White Sox, who’ve been spinning a roulette wheel when it comes to lineup stability.

You won’t be shocked to hear the Sox rate poorly in these rankings—but it’s actually better than last year. In 2024, the team wasn’t just dead last in WAA overall (as expected), but they also ranked last at catcher and across the outfield, 29th at second, third, shortstop and right field, and 28th in left. Only the starting pitching graded out as above average—led by two guys who, naturally, are no longer here.

In 2025, the Sox have climbed all the way to 27th in WAA (take a bow, Rockies, Marlins and Angels!). They’re no longer dead last at any position and only second-worst at two: shortstop and first base.

Shortstop? That's a revolving door of warm bodies. The only true shortstop, Jacob Amaya, fields well but hits like a March Madness bracket.
First base? That brings us to Andrew Vaughn—more on him in a moment.

On the brighter side, third base is surprisingly solid, roughly league average despite Miguel Vargas’s sluggish start. Center field is in similar shape, even with a slow start from Luis Robert Jr. As for starting pitching, which seems competent? It’s ranked 21st.

But catcher? Catching is great. Like, fourth in MLB great.

The Sox backstops are outperforming stars like Adley Rutschman, Salvador Pérez (off to slow starts), and even the red-hot Will Smith. Only the Cubs, Reds, and Mariners rank higher.

• Edgar Quero is hitting .326 since his call-up.

• Korey Lee started hot (5-for-15) before a sprained ankle benched him on April 9.

• Matt Thaiss, while hitting just .212, has a .729 OPS thanks to an impressive walk rate.

• And Kyle Teel is cruising in Charlotte with a .755 OPS.

So, what’s the problem? You can’t carry four catchers—and probably not even three. Lee's IL stint (a suspiciously long one, given how catchers typically grind through worse) is set to last another two weeks. But once he’s ready, someone’s getting cut or demoted.

Unless… they don’t have to.

Why Not Use One at First?

That brings us back to first base, where the Sox are in Year 5 of squinting at Andrew Vaughn and trying to find signs of life. His excuses have ranged from COVID to playing out of position (though anywhere seems like out of position for Vaughn). He’s at the very bottom of first base defensive metrics, and unlike other poor defenders like Vlad Jr., Pete Alonso, or Paul Goldschmidt, he doesn’t hit enough to make up for it.

This year’s excuse? He’s hitting the ball hard but just unlucky. But even if you accept that, it doesn’t explain away four previous seasons that combined for a total bWAR of 1.1—now sinking into the negative.

Even ESPN recently suggested the White Sox move on from Vaughn.

Who’s the alternative?
Top of the list: Tim Elko, a minor league masher with a name that’s an anagram of “Toe Milk,” which is fun. He’s leading all of MiLB in homers and batting .347 at Triple-A. Scouts don’t love him. Neither do Sox brass. But why not give him a shot?

He can’t be worse defensively than Vaughn. For that matter, Charles Comiskey, who played first a century ago and died in 1931, couldn’t be worse.

If not Elko—then maybe ... a catcher?

Could a Catcher Handle First?

Sure, it’s unconventional. But desperate teams can’t afford convention. Vaughn is that bad, and keeping three catchers means trying something creative.

• Korey Lee has 33 games at first in his amateur/pro resume.

• Matt Thaiss has already played there for the Sox this season, and had 31 games at first with the Angels from 2019–2024.

• Edgar Quero? No first base experience.

• Kyle Teel? Played some outfield in college and summer ball, but not first.

Even if the offensive results are only marginally better, the defensive drop-off would be negligible—if there’s any drop-off at all.

Too Many Catchers: A Nice Problem to Have

So yes, it’s a rare, actual strength on the South Side. But rather than letting it turn into a roster crunch, why not use it as a lever to get better elsewhere?

It may be unconventional. It may require guts. But so does continuing to watch Andrew Vaughn strike out while flailing toward a .600 OPS.

And besides—when has “playing it safe” ever worked out for this front office?

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