2026 Transactions: White Sox Option Smith, Lopez & Soler Suspended

Last year, Shane Smith was one of the best players on a White Sox team that sat at the bottom of the American League standings. But after having problems limiting the walks, Smith found himself in Triple-A again after the White Sox optioned him on April 8.

Smith optioned to Triple-A

The White Sox optioned pitcher Shane Smith to Triple-A Charlotte.

Smith was a 2025 All-Star for the Sox and, arguably, their best pitcher last season. The right-hander came over as a Rule 5 pick in 2024.

However, the 2026 campaign has been a different story for Smith. Across his first three outings, Smith walked nine batters and struck out 11 over 8.1 innings.

Discipline for Braves-Angels brawl

Both Jorge Soler and Reynaldo Lopez were suspended for seven games by Major League Baseball for their involvement in a bench-clearing brawl on April 7. Soler appealed, while Lopez agreed to a settlement to reduce his suspension to five games.

During that contest, Soler hit a home run off Lopez in the first inning of that game. Lopez then hit Soler with a pitch later in that contest, and then buzzed him with a high fastball that prompted the incident.