The White Sox have re-signed LaMonte Wade Jr., adding some depth to their lineup by bringing him back on a minor league deal. Wade is set to make his debut with Triple-A Charlotte in their season opener tonight. After spending spring training with Chicago, Wade was released but now finds himself back in the fold.
Wade is no stranger to the majors, having played parts of seven MLB seasons. Most recently, he was a key figure for the Giants, particularly effective against right-handed pitching.
Just two seasons ago, Wade was putting up impressive numbers, boasting a .260/.380/.381 slash line over 401 plate appearances in 2024. His knack for getting on base was evident as he maintained strong on-base percentages over consecutive seasons, ranking him 11th among players with over 800 plate appearances.
However, last season was a struggle. Wade's performance dipped significantly, hitting just .167 with a .275 on-base percentage over 50 games for San Francisco. The Giants' acquisition of Rafael Devers and Dominic Smith pushed Wade out, leading to his designation for assignment.
The Angels saw potential for a turnaround and picked up Wade, hoping a change of scenery might spark a resurgence. Unfortunately, his struggles continued, as he posted a .169/.260/.215 line in 30 games before being released in August, ending his season with a disappointing .167/.271/.254 slash over 242 plate appearances.
Despite last year's challenges, Wade showed promise during Spring Training, belting three home runs and drawing nine walks in 49 plate appearances. With the White Sox focusing on Munetaka Murakami as their primary first baseman, Wade's flexibility offers them a valuable option. Though the big league roster is tight, his return to Triple-A gives him another chance to prove he can contribute at the major league level.