KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The White Sox made three roster moves Monday, recalling right-hander Declan Cronin from Triple-A Charlotte, placing right-hander Jimmy Lambert on the 15-day injured list with right ankle inflammation and designating catcher Seby Zavala for assignment.
The move with the most significant ramifications for the Sox is Zavala, who appeared in 66 games this season and was their best defensive catcher. He returned from his injury rehabilitation assignment for a strained left oblique at Charlotte and was reinstated from the IL before getting DFA’d.
Zavala, 30, who has been on the IL since Aug. 3, ranked seventh among catchers with seven defensive runs saved and held good marks for framing and blocking, but he batted .155 with seven home runs after hitting .270/.347/.382 last season.
“He has major-league value for somebody,” manager Pedro Grifol, a former catcher, said Monday. “I like him catching-wise. Obviously, offensively, he didn’t have the year he wanted to have. But he knows what he’s doing back there, he knows how to handle a staff and I’m hoping for nothing but great things from him.”
Which likely would happen elsewhere, leaving the Sox to proceed in 2024 without Yasmani Grandal, whose four-year, $73 million contract expires after this season, and probably Zavala, who could be claimed on waivers. If he’s not, Zavala likely would decline an assignment to Charlotte and seek a fresh start with another organization.
The future at catcher
The Sox made two deals for minor-league catching prospects at the trade deadline, including one for Korey Lee, 25, in the Kendall Graveman trade with the Astros. Lee caught for the ninth time in the Sox’ last 11 games Monday, and Edgar Quero, acquired in the trade with the Angels for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, is the Sox’ third-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Quero, 20, is at Double-A Birmingham.
Lee is 1-for-25, and he was pulled from the game Saturday against the Tigers for not running out a pop-up, explaining he wasn’t sure where the ball was. A former first-round draft pick, Lee is a .263/.329/.427 hitter in four minor-league seasons.
The Sox have been the easiest team to steal on this season, but Lee threw out Edward Olivares in the fourth inning, the fourth stealer he has caught in 12 attempts.
Carlos Perez is on the 40-man roster, and Adam Hackenberg is catching with him at Charlotte.
This and that
Cronin, who was 3-0 with a 3.62 ERA and two saves in 45 appearances with the Knights, made his sixth appearance and gave up four earned runs, two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
• Lambert is 2-3 with a 5.26 ERA, one save and 41 strikeouts in 35 games (one start) with the Sox. He has dealt with ankle soreness off and on and is likely out for the season with an injury that could require a clean-up procedure on his right ankle.
• All 12 home runs allowed by righty Jesse Scholtens, who gave up two Monday, are against right-handed batters. He’s the only pitcher in the majors with at least 125 batters faced who hasn’t allowed a homer to a lefty.
