Maldonado DFA'd; Soroka goes on IL
CHICAGO -- Catcher Martín Maldonado was designated for assignment by the White Sox, among moves announced by the club on Friday.
The club also placed right-hander Michael Soroka on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, with a right shoulder strain; recalled catcher Chuckie Robinson and righty Steven Wilson; and selected the contract of infielder Brooks Baldwin, who is the club's No. 23-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline.
Soroka, who left his last appearance on Sunday vs. Pittsburgh after throwing just three pitches, is 0-10 with a 5.23 ERA over 22 games (nine starts) this season with the White Sox.
These roster changes followed the team officially announcing the signing of free agent infielder Nick Senzel to a Major League deal with infielder Lenyn Sosa optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Infielder Danny Mendick was also designated for assignment. Sosa is slashing .237/.274/.350 with eight doubles, four home runs, 15 RBIs, 13 runs scored and three stolen bases in 52 games over two stints with the White Sox this season but has slashed .304/.339/.464 with two homers and six RBIs over his last 14 games.
Sosa played six of his last seven games at second base, although he has played 39 games at third in ‘24. Senzel has played six Major League seasons with Cincinnati (2019-23) and Washington (2024), appearing in 259 career games in center field, 100 at third base, 19 in left, 14 in right and 14 at second.
Maldonado, 37, was brought in for his veteran presence behind the plate and clubhouse leadership, roles which he fulfilled without issue. But the right-handed hitter struggled mightily offensively, hitting just .119 overall with four homers and 11 RBIs. He is 6-for-15 with three homers and six RBIs over his last five games.
Third baseman Yoán Moncada, who is 8-for-15 with one double, two RBIs and four runs scored over five injury rehab games for the Arizona Complex League White Sox, should also be getting close to a return to the White Sox.
Moncada has been out of action since April 9, when he suffered a right hip flexor strain while running to first base on a groundout in the top of the second. The trio of Moncada, center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and designated hitter Eloy Jiménez played the first three games together this season at home against Detroit, hitting 2-3-4 in the lineup. They have since not been in the same lineup together.