The White Sox stayed busy this offseason, pulling off another notable move by acquiring pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin from the Red Sox in what amounts to a salary dump deal. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated catcher Drew Romo and right-hander Jairo Iriarte for assignment - a surprising turn for Iriarte, who not long ago was viewed as a potential piece of the team’s future rotation.
From Promising Arm to Roster Casualty
Iriarte’s journey with the White Sox began with promise. He was a key piece in the return package from the Padres in the March 2024 Dylan Cease trade - a deal that was supposed to help lay the foundation for a rebuild. And early on, Iriarte looked like he might live up to the billing.
In 2024, pitching for Double-A Birmingham, the then-21-year-old held his own against older competition. His 3.71 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings over 126 frames were solid, especially considering he was more than two years younger than the average player at that level. That performance earned him a late-season cup of coffee with the big-league club - six appearances that hinted at more to come.
But instead of taking the next step in 2025, Iriarte hit a wall - and hit it hard.
Command Issues Derail Progress
The wheels came off in Triple-A Charlotte, where Iriarte’s command vanished. He issued 37 walks in just 46 innings, giving up 53 hits along the way. That kind of traffic on the bases is a recipe for disaster, and the numbers reflected it: a 7.24 ERA and 1.96 WHIP that underscored just how far off track things had gone.
The White Sox tried to intervene midseason, sending him to Arizona in May to work on his mechanics. But whatever tweaks were made didn’t translate to game action.
His struggles carried over to winter ball in Venezuela, where he pitched for Tiburones de La Guaira. In just 5.1 innings, he gave up nine runs, walked eight, and struck out only two.
Now, with the White Sox continuing to reshape their roster, Iriarte finds himself on the outside looking in. He’s not alone - infielder Bryan Ramos was designated for assignment just days earlier. It’s a clear sign that the front office is tightening its grip on the 40-man, and players with upside but inconsistent results are finding themselves squeezed out.
There’s still a chance Iriarte clears waivers and remains in the organization, but the White Sox now risk losing him for nothing. It’s a tough break for a pitcher who, just a year ago, looked like a legitimate rotation candidate.
Revisiting the Dylan Cease Trade
This development also casts a harsher light on the Dylan Cease trade - a deal that, at the time, was supposed to replenish the White Sox farm system with high-upside talent. But nearly a year later, the early returns aren’t encouraging.
Drew Thorpe, the headliner of the deal, underwent Tommy John surgery last spring and missed the entire 2025 season. He’s expected back sometime this summer, and his development will be key to salvaging the trade. Until he proves he can stay healthy and produce, the deal remains in limbo.
Samuel Zavala, another piece in the return, has shown some growth in the lower minors but hasn’t had the breakout many hoped for. And Steven Wilson, who came over in the same deal, was flipped to the Rays earlier this offseason. Now, with Iriarte designated for assignment, the list of potential long-term contributors from that trade is thinning fast.
It’s too early to completely close the book, especially with Thorpe’s return on the horizon. But right now, the Cease trade is trending in the wrong direction for GM Chris Getz. For a team trying to build a sustainable future, that’s a tough pill to swallow - especially when one of the most promising arms from the deal is now at risk of slipping away.