The White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks connected on an unexpected trade in February 2024 when the South Siders traded pitching prospect Cristian Mena for outfielder Dominic Fletcher. Over a year and a half later, the deal is now officially a bust from the White Sox side. Fletcher elected free agency earlier today, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com.
Fletcher was on the Diamondbacks' top 30 prospect list every year from 2020 to 2023 and put up strong numbers in the minor leagues over that span. He also impressed in a cup of coffee at the MLB level with Arizona in 2023, but was the odd man out in a Diamondbacks outfield that featured Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, and others.
Fletcher's Struggles in Chicago
At the time of the trade, the hope was that he would rejuvenate the White Sox outfield as a young player who needed consistent at-bats. It didn't play out that way. In 275 plate appearances across 84 games in two seasons with the White Sox, he slashed just .208/.254/.282. He gradually fell down the depth chart as time went on, even during the heart of a rebuild.
The now 28-year-old outfielder did put up a respectable .260/.317/.453 line with 17 home runs in 105 games with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights this season, but he only appeared in 12 games for the White Sox big league team. His inability to earn playing time on a rebuilding team that lost 102 games felt like a good indicator that the organization no longer held him in high regard. The team recently outrighted him to Triple-A Charlotte in hopes of keeping him around as a depth option, but he will now look to continue his career elsewhere.
Cristian Mena
Mena hasn't been as hoped for the Diamondbacks either to this point. He has only appeared in four MLB games since the trade, spending most of his time in Triple-A. Across 44.2 innings at that level in 2025, he recorded an elevated 4.84 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, though he did strike out 52 over that span and improved from his 2024 Triple-A numbers. He is still just 22 years old, so time is on his side.
Another Failed White Sox Trade
Corey Julks also elected free agency in this set of roster moves. Acquired from the Astros in May 2024 for pitching prospect Luis Rodriguez, Julks did not make the most of his chances in a White Sox uniform. In 202 plate appearances across 72 games in two seasons on the South Side, he hit just .216/.272/.314. He will now look for another opportunity elsewhere.
Improved Talent Evaluation Is Essential
The White Sox have held auditions for numerous players over the past few years. Some have shown enough promise to get continued opportunities. Others, like Dominic Fletcher and Corey Julks, did not. For a team that doesn't figure to spend significant money in free agency any time soon, they will have to become better at evaluating talent in trades to build a winning roster again.
