White Sox Claim Catcher Jake Rogers Off Waivers From Red Sox

The Chicago White Sox have claimed catcher Jake Rogers off waivers from the Boston Red Sox, according to reporting by Chris Cotillo of MassLive as relayed by MLB Trade Rumors. The move gives Chicago another option at catcher as it works through the late-season strain that can build when a team is forced to shuffle lineups and roles.

Rogers was designated for assignment by Boston earlier this week, a roster step that can happen when a club needs to clear space for other needs on the active roster or 40-man. Because the claim is coming immediately after that DFA window, Rogers becomes part of the waiver process timeline, with the claiming team responsible for adding him to its own roster situation.

For the White Sox, the procedural impact matters as much as the player. MLB Trade Rumors notes that Chicago has a full 40-man roster, which means the club will need to open a spot to complete the claim. The practical result is that Chicago will have to make a corresponding roster move in order to fit Rogers in before the claim can stick.

The same report also points to a key roster detail: Rogers is out of options. That matters because out-of-options players cannot simply be moved between the majors and minors without first clearing other roster hurdles. A team that claims an out-of-options player typically needs to be prepared to keep him on the active roster, at least in the near term, depending on how the team structures its pitching and position groups.

Rogers’ arrival reshapes the White Sox’s catcher picture in a straightforward way. Even when a claim does not report a long-term commitment, it often provides a stabilizing presence for managing pitch-calling duties, late-inning matchups, and day-to-day lineup changes. For Boston, the DFA action suggests that the organization was looking for a different configuration of depth or playing time, while for Chicago it represents a chance to acquire an experienced option with minimal cost.

There is also an organizational context to consider. In August, roster decisions carry more weight because the path to postseason contention is narrower, and teams tend to value depth at positions that can swing outcomes, especially when games hinge on run prevention and the quality of pitching handling. A catcher who is available via waivers can be an efficient way to address immediate needs, even if the player’s role may evolve as soon as internal adjustments occur.

What to watch next is how quickly Chicago finalizes the roster mechanics required by the claim and what role Rogers plays once he is on the active roster. If Chicago must make additional moves to accommodate the full 40-man situation, those decisions can reveal how the organization views its current catching depth and whether it intends to rotate responsibilities or establish a clearer pecking order.