Lamont Wade Jr. returns to the White Sox on a minor league deal after a strong spring, giving Chicago a left-handed depth option as questions remain in the outfield early in the 2026 season.
The Chicago White Sox have retained some valuable depth within the organization, bringing back 1B/OF LaMonte Wade Jr. on a minor league contract.
Wade initially joined the White Sox on a minor league deal at the end of January and received an invitation to big league spring training. He made a strong impression, launching three home runs and posting a 1.034 OPS across 15 Cactus League games. Had the roster math broken differently, there’s a legitimate case that Wade could have made the Opening Day roster.
At 32 years old, Wade brings a left-handed bat—something this roster could certainly use off the bench—and he’s not far removed from being a productive major league hitter. In 2024, he posted a .761 OPS with the San Francisco Giants, and in 2023, he hit 17 home runs with a .790 OPS.
Wade has long been effective in a platoon role against right-handed pitching. Of his 55 career MLB home runs, 54 have come against righties, and he owns a .760 OPS in those matchups. That profile could make him a natural fit as a situational bat if the White Sox need help later in the season.
Because of that, many White Sox fans were pleasantly surprised by what Wade showed this spring, and just as disappointed when the club released him on March 20.
Now, it appears that door hasn’t fully closed.
Wade is back in the organization and is currently listed as an outfielder on the Triple-A Charlotte Knights roster, giving the White Sox a familiar and potentially useful option if they need to tap into their depth at any point this season.
The "outfield" designation for Wade is particularly interesting. The majority of Wade’s MLB experience, especially recently, has come at first base. But given the uncertainty the White Sox still have in the outfield, it could open a path for Wade to earn a promotion at some point this season.
The White Sox kept Tristan Peters on the active roster to begin the year largely because he hits left-handed, filling a need for a lefty bench bat. But Peters is 0-for-13 in his MLB career, dating back to his brief stint with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025 and his appearance on Opening Day with the White Sox in 2026.
Everson Pereira didn’t look good on Opening Day either. Of course, it’s just one game, and it’s far too early to draw any firm conclusions. But if a few weeks pass and neither Peters nor Pereira is able to gain traction, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the White Sox explore other options.
That could mean a promotion for someone like Wade, or a roster shakeup once Brooks Baldwin returns from the injured list. Peters, in particular, is a candidate to be optioned given that he still has minor league options remaining.
Wade did struggle in 2025, but the upside of this signing has been intriguing from the moment the White Sox brought him in. And we saw a glimpse of why during spring training.
He’s a name worth monitoring as the minor league season gets underway. For now, it’s a positive development that the White Sox were able to bring him back into the organization.