White Sox designate former first-round pick for assignment

The White Sox announced Tuesday that they’ve designated outfielder Adam Haseley for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to infielder Paul DeJong, whose previously reported one-year deal has now been confirmed by the team. Chicago’s 40-man roster remains at capacity.

Haseley, 27, was the eighth overall selection in the 2017 draft by the Phillies but hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations associated with that draft stock. He’s appeared in parts of five big league seasons — the past two with Chicago after coming over in a 2022 trade sending McKinley Moore to the Phils — but compiled a tepid .259/.319/.356 batting line in 419 career plate appearances. The bulk of his offensive production came during his 2019-20 run with the Phils; he’s struggled at the plate in three seasons since.

Haseley spent the bulk of the 2023 season with the White Sox’ Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte, where he posted a .264/.338/.386 batting line that checked in 17% worse than league average, by measure of wRC+. The speedy outfielder walked in 8.9% of his plate appearances, showed good bat-to-ball skills with a 16.6% strikeout rate and went 10-for-14 in stolen base attempts in his 72 games at that level.

While Haseley’s bat hasn’t been up to the MLB standard, he’s logged time at all three outfield positions in the big leagues and graded out as an above-average defender according to each of Defensive Runs Saved (11), Ultimate Zone Rating (3.6) and Outs Above Average (1). He’s had a particularly tough time against fellow lefties in his career (.243/.309/.297) but handled righties at a more passable .262/.320/.371 clip.

Because he’s out of minor league options, Haseley would’ve needed to crack the White Sox’ Opening Day roster or else eventually be designated for assignment, as he was today. Another club in search of a lefty bat with some speed and contact skills who can handle all three outfield spots could place a waiver claim or acquire him in a small trade, but Haseley’s lack of minor league options would put that new team in the same spot. Now that he’s been DFA, Haseley will either be traded, released or run through outright waivers within a week’s time. He cleared waivers this time a year ago and was assigned outright to Charlotte, and that prior outright assignment will give him the right to elect free agency if he goes unclaimed a second time.