The White Sox are taking a low-risk swing at a bounce-back candidate, agreeing to a minor league deal with veteran first baseman and corner outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. He’ll head to big league camp as a non-roster invitee, looking to reestablish himself after a rough 2025 season.
Wade’s not a stranger to the big leagues-he’s logged parts of seven seasons, carving out a niche as a left-handed bat who’s done solid work in a platoon role. His best stretch came recently, too.
Just two years ago in 2024, Wade posted a strong .260/.380/.381 line over 401 plate appearances with the Giants. That on-base percentage wasn’t a fluke either.
From 2023 to 2024, he combined to hit .258 with a .376 OBP and a .401 slugging percentage. Among hitters with at least 800 plate appearances in that span, Wade’s .376 OBP ranked 11th in all of baseball-elite company when it comes to getting on base.
But 2025 was a different story. Wade’s bat went cold in San Francisco, where he hit just .167 with a .275 OBP over 50 games.
The Giants, shifting gears, traded for Rafael Devers to take over DH duties and brought in Dominic Smith to handle first base. That left Wade without a role, and he was designated for assignment to make room.
The Angels took a flyer on him shortly after, hoping a change of scenery might spark something. They gave him 30 games over two months, but the struggles continued-he slashed just .169/.260/.215 before being released in August. That brought his full-season line to a tough .167/.271/.254 over 242 plate appearances.
Now, the White Sox are hoping there’s still something left in the tank. There’s no real downside here-minor league deal, no roster commitment, and a chance to see if a full offseason of rest and recalibration can help Wade rediscover the form that made him such an on-base machine just a couple seasons ago.
For a team like the White Sox, who are in the midst of reshaping their roster and looking for undervalued contributors, this is exactly the kind of move that makes sense. Wade’s plate discipline has always been his calling card, and if he can pair that with even modest contact and power, he could work his way into the mix as a left-handed option at first base or in the outfield.
Spring training will be the proving ground. If Wade can show flashes of his 2023-24 self, he might just earn a shot at sticking around.