Former forgotten Giant just got quietly released by the White Sox

While it has seemed like just about every former SF Giants player is thriving with other teams this season, that simply isn’t the case. LaMonte Wade Jr. was just released by the Chicago White Sox which shows that not every ex-Giant is going off.

It’s disappointing for Wade especially since it seemed like he might find a decent home with the White Sox. He performed well in spring training but did not make the big league team. He wound up in the minors for the White Sox and his slash line was a respectable .250/.420/.441 with seven home runs and 26 runs batted in.

Yet, the White Sox cut him loose. It’s possible that he had June 1 opt-out in his contract which basically means if he isn’t called up to the big leagues by then he can opt out and test free agency.

Chicago opted to give Jacob Gonzalez a look over Wade in Munetaka Murakami’s absence so maybe it was clear to Wade that he did not have a path to playing time with the White Sox.

Despite being released, Wade showed some promising signs

It seems he got back to doing what made him a valuable player at his best with the Giants: getting on base. He drew 45 walks while striking out 43 times in Triple-A for the White Sox. When he was at his most productive with the Giants he would draw walks at an impressive rate and get on base a ton so as long as he does that with regularity he can be a valuable player.

His production fell off a cliff with San Francisco last season. He began 2025 as the team’s leadoff hitter and first baseman but it quickly became clear that this was not the same Wade fans had grown accustomed to. By the time the Giants let him go, he was hitting a measly .167/.275/.271. 

The Los Angeles Angels took a shot on him after that but he somehow did even worse and was eventually let go by them.

Wade will always be remembered for the clutch hits he delivered back during the magical 2021 season and he just seemed like a really good guy and good teammate so hopefully he lands on his feet somewhere.

For every Otto Lopez, Dominic Smith, and Kyle Harrison thriving with a different team this season there is a Wade or an Austin Slater out there to remind us that not every former Giant goes on to bigger and better things after they leave San Francisco. That doesn't make it any less annoying, though.

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