After three straight seasons of 100-plus losses, the Chicago White Sox are finally showing signs of turning a corner. The front office overhaul-parting ways with Rick Hahn, Kenny Williams, and manager Pedro Grifol-marked a clear shift in direction.
Under the leadership of Chris Getz and new manager Will Venable, the organization is starting to reshape its roster and identity. But as the team moves forward, a few familiar faces are moving on.
Two players the White Sox had once hoped would be part of the solution have now found new homes in the middle of the 2025-26 offseason. Both were brought in with expectations-either through trades or as part of a broader rebuild strategy-and both are now looking for fresh starts elsewhere.
Jared Shuster Lands in St. Louis
Left-hander Jared Shuster, one of the key returns in the trade that sent reliever Aaron Bummer to Atlanta, is now headed to the St. Louis Cardinals. According to reports, Shuster has signed a minor league deal with an invite to spring training-a low-risk move for a Cardinals team that’s reportedly open to moving some veteran arms.
Shuster had a decent first year in Chicago in 2024, posting a 4.30 ERA over 73 innings. His 1.46 WHIP and .260 opponent batting average weren’t ideal, but he managed to limit damage and showed enough to earn another look going into 2025.
That look never fully materialized, though. Shuster spent most of the 2025 season in Triple-A, and when he did get a chance in the majors, it didn’t go well-he logged just 15 innings with an ERA north of 8.00.
After being claimed off waivers by the A’s and spending time in their minor league system, Shuster was released and is now hoping to catch on with the Cardinals. Given the state of St. Louis’ pitching staff and their openness to younger arms, there’s a real opportunity for Shuster to compete for a roster spot in spring training.
Dominic Fletcher Signs with the Pirates
Outfielder Dominic Fletcher is also on the move. The 28-year-old has reportedly signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, including an invite to spring training.
Fletcher came to the White Sox in a one-for-one trade with the Diamondbacks, who received pitching prospect Cristian Mena in return. At the time, it looked like a win-now move for Chicago-Fletcher had impressed during his MLB debut with Arizona, and the Sox were banking on him carrying that momentum into a bigger role.
But Fletcher never quite found his footing in Chicago. In 2024, he played in 72 games and slashed just .206/.252/.256 with one home run and 17 RBIs.
The production just wasn’t there, and after a few months, he was sent down to Triple-A. That’s where he seemed to find his groove again.
In 2025, Fletcher didn’t break camp with the big-league club, but he put together a strong season in Triple-A, posting a .770 OPS with 17 homers in 105 games. That earned him a late-season call-up, and while the sample size was small-just 12 games-he showed flashes, hitting .219 with a .469 slugging percentage and another home run.
Now, Fletcher heads to Pittsburgh, where he’ll be in the mix for a roster spot. The Pirates are looking for bats to support their young rotation, and Fletcher’s left-handed swing and defensive versatility could give him a shot to stick if he carries over his minor league success.
Turning the Page
For the White Sox, these moves are part of a broader reset. Shuster and Fletcher were brought in as part of a previous regime’s attempt to patch holes and find value in the margins.
Sometimes those gambles pay off-sometimes they don’t. But as the Sox try to climb out of the cellar and build something more sustainable, they’re clearly making room for new faces and new opportunities.
As for Shuster and Fletcher, they’ll get fresh starts with new organizations, each still chasing the potential that once brought them to Chicago. And with spring training just around the corner, both players will have a shot to prove they still belong in the big leagues.