GLENDALE, Ariz. — Reese McGuire noticed some changes in his return to the Chicago White Sox. The catcher also saw a familiar face.
“I remember it was a lot different kind of clubhouse, older veterans and a lot of contract guys,” said McGuire, who was with the Sox for a portion of the 2022 season. “(Then manager, now special advisor) Tony La Russa, just saw him walking around this morning, too.
“It was a cool face to see.”
The Sox signed McGuire to a one-year, $1.2 million contract on Sunday. With Kyle Teel sidelined four to six weeks because of a right hamstring strain, McGuire joins Edgar Quero as options behind the plate. Korey Lee is the odd man out.
“Korey Lee was outstanding this camp,” manager Will Venable said on Sunday. “He’s a really important member of this organization, great relationships in the clubhouse. Someone I personally love and have grown to respect. And it was a really hard decision.
“When you look at Quero kind of moving into that top spot and how to best complement him, with (the switch-hitting) Quero really doing most of his damage at the plate from the right side, to be able to get a left-handed hitting catcher to support him and complement him well, we thought was really important for us to get off to a good start.”
Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee stands at the plate during the top of the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in a Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
As for Lee’s next step, Venable said, “We’re going to work it out over the next couple of days, see what transpires. There will be a process in place. Again, a really tough one, a tough decision because how much we care about Korey.”
Lee has a .195/.237/.325 slash line with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs during his three seasons with the Sox, playing 174 of his 186 career major-league games. He was acquired from Houston on July 28, 2023, for reliever Kendall Graveman.
“Certainly his impact in that clubhouse was real and important and we’ll miss him,” Venable said. “It was factored into the decision.”
Venable said McGuire is “a great teammate that these guys will be able to learn from.”
Venable added, “I was around him in Boston, he knows how to handle a pitching staff. He knows how to navigate opposing hitters. Does a nice job at the plate, has unlocked some power there recently. He’s just a guy that’s been there, has a ton of experience, that (we) hope everyone can benefit from.”
McGuire had a .225/.261/.285 slash line, going 34-for-151 with nine doubles and 10 RBIs in 53 games with the Sox in 2022 after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on April 3 of that season. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 1 that year in exchange for pitcher Jake Diekman.
“Definitely excited to be back,” McGuire said. “Excited for the opportunity.”
McGuire, 31, has a career .248/.293/.374 slash line with 56 doubles, 25 home runs and 106 RBIs in 400 games over parts of eight major-league seasons with the Blue Jays (2018-21), White Sox (2022), Red Sox (2022-24) and Chicago Cubs (2025).
He had a .226/.245/.444 slash line with nine home runs and 24 RBIs in 44 games with the Cubs last year.
McGuire has thrown out 27.1 percent (60-of-221) of attempted base stealers. He spent most of this spring with the Milwaukee Brewers.
“Took the opt out on Saturday and I was going to wait around for a team and, so yeah I was happy to get the call,” McGuire said. “Really any team is a good fit in my mind, right? Just having the opportunity to be around the younger pitching staff and some younger players and as well as the veterans here. Just playing my role and be a leader and do what I can to help this team win.”
As for whether the Sox will go with three catchers on the roster when Teel — who suffered the injury on March 10 while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic — is healthy, Venable said, “We’ll cross that road when we get there.”
While the catching situation is settled for the start of the season, the Sox still have decisions to make with their bullpen. Sunday, the team optioned left-hander Brandon Eisert to Triple-A Charlotte. Eisert allowed three runs on nine hits with 12 strikeouts in nine innings.
“He had a great camp and did everything he could to be on this team,” Venable said. “As you’re just looking for ways to preserve your guys, preserve depth and put together a bullpen that fits up front here, he unfortunately was the odd man out.”