A handful of Chicago White Sox players elected free agency following the 2025 season, hoping to land better opportunities for big-league playing time.
And honestly, that’s probably a good thing for the White Sox.
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Chicago is no longer the team you sign with if you’re a career minor leaguer hoping to finally break through, or a washed-up veteran looking for one more season in The Show.
The White Sox are slowly raising their standard—adding veteran players who complement the young core and can actually help move the needle on the field.
This organization does not appear content with losing 100 games again in 2026. The goal is to take a step closer to contention, and that starts with giving playing time to young players with upside, or veterans who truly deserve to be there.
A few of the players who moved on, though, have already found new opportunities elsewhere.
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On Monday morning, left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster agreed to a minor-league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals that includes an invite to spring training.
Shuster posted a 4.96 ERA across 51 appearances for the White Sox between 2024 and 2025, but his performance dipped significantly last season, finishing 2025 with an 8.04 ERA.
He now lands with a Cardinals team in the midst of a rebuild—one that could lean on Shuster for left-handed innings if he pitches well in camp. If all he’s looking for is another shot at a big-league mound, St. Louis is a reasonable landing spot.
Also on Monday, outfielder Dominic Fletcher signed a minor-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, also including a spring training invite.
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Like Shuster, this is a logical bet for Fletcher if he’s hoping to secure MLB at-bats next season. The Pirates want to take a step forward, but their offense remains a clear weakness. If injuries hit the outfield, Fletcher could find an opening.
The 28-year-old posted a .770 OPS with 17 home runs in 105 Triple-A games last year. He also received 32 big-league at-bats late in the season, hitting .219 with one home run and a .734 OPS.
Still, that brief showing didn’t fully erase a rough 2024 campaign, when Fletcher managed just a .508 OPS over 72 games.
The White Sox won’t miss much with Shuster and Fletcher playing elsewhere. Most fans probably won’t even notice they’re gone.
But it’s still good to see both players land on their feet with new organizations—and just as importantly, it’s a sign that the standard inside the White Sox organization is finally starting to rise.