Geovany Soto

41-Year-Old CatcherC

Free Agent

2024 Stats

AVG

.000

RBI

Rest-of-Season Projections

AVG

RBI

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Geovany Soto in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'1"

Weight 220

DOB 1/20/1983

Born San Juan, Puerto Rico

College None

Drafted 11th Rd 2001 CHC

Becomes free agent

CFree Agent

Elbow

November 2, 2017

Soto (elbow) will become a free agent after the White Sox declined to exercise his 2018 club option.

ANALYSIS
Soto hit .190/.271/.405 in 13 games with the White Sox before elbow surgery ended his season in mid-May. He'll look to catch on elsewhere as catching depth, though he'll need to prove he's healthy before doing so. His recent injury issues could force him to settle for a minor-league deal.

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2017

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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Geovany Soto See More

AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

May 14, 2017

Erik Siegrist wades into this week's free agent pool and bids a fond farewell to Jose Berrios, who looked strong in his season debut Saturday.

Yahoo DFS Baseball: Monday Picks

May 1, 2017

Adam Zdroik previews Monday's slate and can't resist going chalk with Clayton Kershaw in a home matchup against the Giants.

FanDuel MLB: Sunday Value Plays

April 30, 2017

RotoWire's Chris Bennett is looking for Mets left-handed hitters to line up against the Nationals' Joe Ross, which immediately brings him to Michael Conforto.

The Wheelhouse: DFS Breakdown - 4/28

April 28, 2017

Derek VanRiper breaks down a heavy 15-game Friday night slate.

AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

April 16, 2017

Erik Siegrist reviews the available free agents in AL player pools and thinks injuries may be opening up roster spots for top prospects like the Rays' Brent Honeywell.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

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An elbow injury cut Soto's season short, as he required surgery that ended his campaign in May. Prior to getting hurt, he played in 13 games for the White Sox, hitting .190/.271/.405 in just 48 plate appearances. Now 35, Soto is unlikely to get anything more than a minor-league deal with an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in spring training. Retirement isn't out of the question either, as he hasn't played 80 games in a season since 2012. If he sticks as a backup somewhere, Soto's role will likely be limited to a start or two per week, and while he's still showing the ability to launch long balls at a useful clip (17 in his 344 plate appearances since the start of 2015), the litany of injuries that have cost him time throughout his career makes him a long shot to see more than a brief stretch where he is entrusted with regular starts.

Soto joined the Angels last offseason and found his way into a timeshare behind the plate. The veteran managed to perform better than expected, but staying on the field proved a challenge. Recurring knee issues ultimately ended his season in mid-August. At 34 years old, Soto's window as a major leaguer is closing although his hitting numbers show he still has something in the tank, especially against left-handed pitching (.952 OPS). Soto signed a minor league contract with the White Sox in January but it's reasonable to think he could land not only a roster spot but the starting job as well, given the team's lack of viable alternatives. Everything will depend on health.

Soto spent 2015 in a platoon with Tyler Flowers. However, Soto could not hit well enough to make up for Flowers' superior defense, so he was limited to 210 plate appearances despite a clean bill of health. When Soto did play, he showed some power (.187 ISO), but that power came with a career-high strikeout rate. He signed with the Angels in the offseason, presumably to serve in some sort of timeshare with Carlos Perez. Even with the catcher position being what it is, there is little reason to consider Soto as anything more than a third catcher option in standard mixed leagues.

Soto suffered a torn meniscus in spring training and missed the first half the season as a result. He joined the A's in late August after the team suffered multiple injuries at the catcher position. Soto's 2014 was pretty much a write off as he only appeared in 24 games, hitting one homer over 80 at-bats. He still has some pop (nine homers in 163 at-bats in 2013) and that, along with his veteran presence behind the plate, should land him a job as some team's backup catcher in 2015. Durability has become a major concern, however, as Soto has appeared in just 78 games over the past two seasons combined. After signing a minor league deal with the White Sox in January, he'll compete for playing time with Tyler Flowers as part of a rebuilt lineup on the south side of Chicago.

Soto showed enough at the plate and behind it in a part-time role in 2013 to be anointed the primary catcher for 2014 early in the offseason. He showed good pop (.466 slugging, nine homers in 54 games) to offer hope that he might be able to approach the 17 homers that he hit in 2011, in his last season where he received more than 350 at-bats. The batting average will always be a concern, however, and that issue becomes even greater with the expectation of a larger share of at-bats.

So much for a change-of-scenery approach to jumpstart a once-promising bat. Soto failed to hit with Texas, just as he had with the Cubs, and the goodness of 2008 and 2010 continues to fade. In some ways, he resembles Mike Napoli, but with loads more variance and not quite the upside. With the addition of A.J. Pierzynski in free agency, Soto is now expected to serve as the Rangers' backup behind the plate with limited playing time.

Soto is on an every-other-year plan of producing that's made him profitable for some, but disastrous for others. Some of it can be explained by wide BABIP fluctuations (and catchers' smaller at-bat samples make those more likely), and he's also dealt with impatient management and nagging injuries, but last year his walk and contact rates plummeted to the lowest levels of his career. Still, at 29, Soto is still in his prime, and having demonstrated elite hitting skills for a catcher in 2008 and 2010, he's capable of another major bounce back.

After a disastrous sophomore year, Soto bounced back in a big way, with a .280/.393/.497 line, leading all major league catchers in OPS (.890) last season. Soto has excellent power, a good batting eye and has hit for a solid average, including a .353 mark at Triple-A in 2007, for three of the last four years. Soto spent time on the DL in August with a sprained shoulder, which required arthroscopic surgery after the season, but was expected to resume baseball activities in early January - in plenty of time to get ready for the start of spring training. Soto is the Cubs' unquestioned starting catcher, and with Lou Piniella no longer around to give too many at-bats to Koyie Hill for God knows what reason, Soto should improve significantly upon last year's counting stats.

After a huge rookie year that put Soto on the map as one of the game's premier hitting catchers, he took a big step back in 2009, and it's unclear exactly why. He played in the World Baseball Classic and was underused, causing him to get out of shape early on. He also had some terrible BABIP luck (.257 in 2009 vs. .337 in 2008) and he missed six weeks with an oblique injury, then lost playing time to journeyman Koyie Hill when he returned. Still, a closer look at the numbers shows improved contact and walk rates from his rookie year, bad luck on balls in play and 11 home runs in 331 at-bats. Anything can happen, and one can be legitimately concerned about Soto's confidence, but we'd bet on him bouncing back.

Soto's .285/.364/.504 line from the catcher spot earned him Rookie of the Year honors and 13th place in the National League MVP voting, and at age 26 he should only get better. If we had to nitpick, it would be on account of his low contact rate - Soto's strikeout totals put him at risk for a batting average dip. Still, he hits the ball hard, has excellent power and draws his share of free passes. He should again be one of the top backstops in the league.

Soto tore up Triple-A last year, hitting for average and power while displaying passable plate discipline roughly in line with his career norms. Of course, his .415 batting average on balls in play isn't remotely sustainable, so don't expect a .300 hitter at the major league level. With Jason Kendall gone, Soto is expected to open the season as the team's starting catcher, with Henry Blanco serving as the backup.

Soto doesn't hit for power, but he's got good on-base skills for a catcher and is good defensively. He'll be an option if Michael Barrett or Henry Blanco goes down.

Soto doesn't have much pop, but he's got good on-base skills for a catcher and is good defensively. He'll be an option if Michael Barrett or Henry Blanco goes down.

More Fantasy News

Still hopeful to play in 2017

CChicago White Sox

Elbow

September 4, 2017

Soto, who has been sidelined since mid-May following arthroscopic right elbow surgery, remains hopeful to return from the 60-day disabled list before the 2017 season ends, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

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Lands on 60-day DL in advance of surgery

CChicago White Sox

Elbow

May 15, 2017

Soto (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list after it was announced that he will undergo arthroscopic elbow debridement surgery Tuesday.

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Considering surgery for elbow issue

CChicago White Sox

Elbow

May 11, 2017

Soto hasn't ruled out surgery to address the inflammation in his right elbow, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

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Lands on DL with elbow inflammation

CChicago White Sox

Elbow

May 10, 2017

Soto was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with right elbow inflammation, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

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Scratched due to elbow soreness

CChicago White Sox

Elbow

May 9, 2017

Soto was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to right elbow soreness, CSN's Dan Hayes reports.

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