White Sox Release LaMonte Wade Jr. From Minor-League Deal After He Failed to Earn Promotion

The Chicago White Sox released LaMonte Wade Jr. from his minor-league contract earlier this week. The five-year veteran infielder, who joined the organization before the 2026 season, did not receive interest in a big-league promotion despite strong performance at Triple-A Charlotte.

167 with one home run and 15 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants in the 2025 season. His struggles included a 2-for-17 performance on the Giants’ most recent road trip that year, after which the team traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in a salary dump. 260 in the 2024 season and earned the nickname “Late Night LaMonte” in 2021 for dramatic late-inning hits with the Giants.

He is a left-handed hitter capable of playing first base and corner outfield. The White Sox are evaluating 2023 first-rounder Jacob Gonzalez after Munetaka Murakami suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is expected to miss at least four to six weeks. Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors noted that Chicago is taking a look at Gonzalez in Murakami’s absence.

“It might register as a modest surprise that the Sox either cut him loose or (if he had a June 1 opt-out in his contract) granted him his release at a time when Munetaka Murakami just hit the shelf for at least four to six weeks due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain,” Adams wrote.

” The White Sox have not publicly ruled out a reunion with Wade on a new contract. Adams added that teams looking for lefty-swinging corner help could examine Wade’s recent minor-league results.

“Teams looking for some lefty-swinging corner help — ideally at first base but possibly at DH and/or in an outfield corner — could take a look and hope that his strong showing in the upper minors is a precursor to a return to form in the majors,” Adams stated.