Former Reds catcher inks minor-league deal with White Sox

The Cincinnati Reds signed Austin Wynns this past week. The veteran backstop agreed to a split-contract and will give the Reds some depth behind Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile.

There was a contingent of Reds fans, however, who wanted to see Cincinnati re-sign Chuckie Robinson. Robinson had a cup of coffee with the Reds in 2022 and was part of the Louisville Bats roster all last season.

But it appears as though Robinson plans to try his luck with a new team in 2024. According to MLB.com, the Chicago White Sox signed Robinson to a minor-league contract several days ago.

Former Reds catcher Chuckie Robinson signs MiLB deal with White Sox

It's a safe assumption that Chuckie Robinson will receive an invite to spring training as part of his new contract with the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox currently have three catchers (Max Stassi, Carlos Perez, and Korey Lee) on the 40-man roster.

But with a strong spring, Robinson has an opportunity to find his way onto the White Sox 2024 Opening Day roster. Stassi is probably the odds-on favor to open the season behind the plate, but Perez has a career-OPS below .600 and Lee played in just 24 games last season.

The Cincinnati Reds needed Robinson to help bail them out in 2022 when the club went through seven different catchers, including Austin Romine, Chris Okey, and Michael Papierski. Robinson hit .136 with two round-trippers and an OPS of .407 in 59 at-bats.

The Reds will head into 2024 with the trio of Tyler Stephenson, Luke Maile, and Austin Wynns. Look for Stephenson to get the majority of starts behind the plate, while Maile gives him a breather every two or three days. Wynns, who plays above-average defense, offers insurance and depth in the minor leagues.