The White Sox made a pair of roster moves official this week, sending right-hander Jairo Iriarte and catcher Drew Romo through waivers and outrighting both to Triple-A Charlotte. Neither player was claimed by another club, and both will now head into spring training as non-roster invitees - a fresh opportunity to reestablish value after a turbulent stretch for each.
Let’s start with Iriarte. The 24-year-old righty came to Chicago two years ago in the Dylan Cease deal, arriving from San Diego with a reputation as a rising arm.
At the time, he was flashing swing-and-miss stuff and climbing prospect rankings thanks to a high-octane fastball and a slider with bite. But the last two seasons have been a rollercoaster.
In 2024, he logged 126 innings at the Double-A level and posted a 3.71 ERA - not bad on the surface. But a closer look tells a different story.
His strikeout rate plummeted from 33.2% the previous year to 22.8%, and his walk rate stayed elevated at 10.7%. Control had always been a question mark, and it became more glaring as the innings piled up.
That command issue ultimately led the Sox to experiment with Iriarte in a bullpen role last season. The results?
Rough. In 46 innings at Triple-A, he posted a 7.24 ERA, and his walk rate ballooned to 16.7%.
The strikeouts dipped again, this time to 21.6%. Simply put, he struggled to find a rhythm in relief, and the role change didn’t unlock the consistency the Sox were hoping for.
Still, there’s a reason Chicago isn’t ready to give up just yet. Iriarte has one minor league option year remaining, and this is his first outright assignment, meaning he doesn’t have the service time to elect free agency.
That gives the Sox a bit of runway to keep working with him in Charlotte, away from the pressure of the 40-man roster. The raw tools are still there - it’s now about refining the command and figuring out where he fits best long-term.
As for Romo, the 24-year-old catcher has had a whirlwind winter. After being waived by the Rockies - the team that drafted him 35th overall in 2020 - he bounced from Colorado to Baltimore, then to the Mets, and finally to the White Sox, all via waivers. Now, after clearing unclaimed, he’ll stay put in Chicago’s system.
Romo’s profile has always leaned defense-first. He was considered one of the better defensive catchers in his draft class and earned praise for his glove work and leadership behind the plate as he advanced through the minors. Offensively, there was just enough production early on to keep him on top prospect lists, even cracking some top-100 rankings at one point.
But like Iriarte, his stock has taken a hit. Last year at Triple-A, Romo slashed .264/.329/.409 - which looks solid until you factor in the Pacific Coast League’s hitter-friendly conditions.
Adjusted for league and park, that line translated to a 75 wRC+, well below league average. The bat hasn’t developed the way evaluators hoped, and that’s made it tougher for him to stick.
Still, Romo finds himself in a White Sox system that’s suddenly crowded behind the plate. Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee are all on the 40-man roster, and each brings something different to the table.
Lee is out of minor league options, which could put him in a roster crunch. Meanwhile, there’s been some trade chatter around both Teel and Quero - nothing imminent, but enough to keep an eye on.
If a deal does materialize, Romo could see a clearer path to playing time.
For now, he’ll head to Charlotte and look to reset. Like Iriarte, he doesn’t have the service time to elect free agency, so the Sox will keep him in the fold and see if he can tap back into the promise that once made him a top pick.
Bottom line: these are low-risk, potentially rewarding plays by the White Sox. Neither Iriarte nor Romo is currently in the team’s immediate plans, but both have pedigree and flashes of upside. Spring training will be a key proving ground - and if either player can find their footing, they could become part of the longer-term picture in Chicago.