White Sox Outright Iriarte, Romo to Triple-A Charlotte After Clearing Waivers

The Chicago White Sox removed two young pieces from their 40‑man roster but kept both in the fold, outrighting right‑hander Jairo Iriarte and catcher Drew Romo to Triple‑A Charlotte after they cleared waivers. Both players received non‑roster invitations to big‑league spring training, a sign the club still views them as depth with upside rather than lost assets.

The moves follow designation for assignment notices on Feb. 1 and come amid a flurry of winter roster activity that included the signings of Lucas Sims, Trey Cooper and Austin Hays and the designation of Bryan Hudson. The transactions give the White Sox more flexibility on the 40‑man while retaining two 24‑year‑olds who can be called upon if injuries or roster churn create an opening.

Iriarte’s profile is a tale of promise and recent struggles. Acquired from the Padres as part of the Dylan Cease trade, Iriarte made his major‑league debut in 2024 and posted a tidy 1.50 ERA across six innings. His minor‑league track record, however, flagged concerns about command and a declining strikeout rate. In 2024 at Double‑A he threw 126 innings with a 3.71 ERA, a 22.8 percent strikeout rate and a 10.7 percent walk rate. Those control issues intensified in 2025 at Triple‑A Charlotte, where Iriarte worked 46 innings and posted a 7.24 ERA, a 1.96 WHIP and 48 strikeouts. His strikeout rate slipped to about 21.6 percent while his walk rate ballooned to roughly 16.7 percent in Triple‑A. Observers noted, "The control problems were already present before he came to the White Sox, which hinted at a potential long‑term move to the bullpen." The organization still retains an option year for Iriarte, and the club will use Charlotte as a place to let him regain command and earn another promotion.

Romo arrives in Charlotte with a reputation as a strong defender whose offensive output has faded. He has a small major‑league sample of 19 games and 54 at‑bats, slashing .167/.196/.222 and striking out 37.5 percent of the time in the big leagues. At Triple‑A last season Romo produced a .264/.329/.409 line, but that output adjusts poorly for the hitter‑friendly Pacific Coast League; as noted, "He slashed .264/.329/.409 in Triple‑A last year, which looks good at first blush but actually translates to a 75 wRC+ in the hitter‑friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League." Romo also spent the winter bouncing the waiver wire from Colorado to Baltimore to New York and finally to Chicago before clearing.

The short term is straightforward: both players will be non‑roster invitees to spring training competing for depth roles. For Iriarte the work is mechanical and mental - regain command and reestablish a swingman or late‑inning role. For Romo the path is offensive refinement behind Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero and Korey Lee on the organizational catching depth chart. The White Sox preserved roster flexibility while keeping reclamation projects in reach, and spring camp should make clear whether either 24‑year‑old can convert potential into a renewed shot at the majors.