Free agent activity has yet to pick up around Major League Baseball, but it’s expected to begin in a frenzy this month before the lockout on December 1. As teams prepare their rosters for the flurry of activity, a few smaller roster moves have begun to take place around the league. The White Sox were among the teams participating in the activity, and the team announced they’ve claimed infielder Graham Pauley on waivers from the Marlins on Monday. As part of a corresponding move, outfielder Junior Perez and lefty Ky Bush were outrighted off the 40-man roster.
The Chicago White Sox have claimed infielder Graham Pauley off waivers from Miami and outrighted left-handed pitcher Ky Bush and outfielder Junior Pérez to Class AAA Charlotte.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 2, 2026
Pauley, 26, was originally a 13th-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2022 out of Duke. He slugged 23 home runs during his first full minor league season in 2023 and made his big league debut in 2024 before being traded to the Miami Marlins in the deal that sent Tanner Scott to San Diego at the deadline. He went from a relatively unheralded prospect to a projected starter in a short amount of time, but has struggled to find his footing the past couple years. Pauley played 62 games for Miami in 2025, posting a .677 OPS with four home runs, and played the exact same number again in 2026, with another four home runs and a .630 OPS. Pauley has yet to consistently put together good numbers at the big league level, and at 26, he found himself on the outside looking in of the Marlins roster crunch.
Graham Pauley brings defensive versatility and power potential to Chicago
For the White Sox, his immediate fit is unclear. The team’s infield of Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, and Chase Meidroth feels set, but the depth in the infield is relatively thin following Sam Antonacci’s move to the outfield. Pauley’s experience in the big leagues features time at first and third, so he could simply be a depth option behind Vargas and Murakami. Pauley brings some intriguing power potential from the left side and versatility to play multiple positions. In a small sample size in 2025, he posted 7 OAA in the field, so he’s played well defensively at both third and first, albeit in a small sample size. He’s certainly not a bad option for depth in the infield corners.
With Ky Bush and Junior Perez now off the roster, the White Sox 40-man roster sits at 39, so there’s room to make another claim ahead of the 40-man deadline if they so choose. Otherwise, it gives them room to operate in free agency without having to make a roster move right away. Bush did not pitch in 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2025 and suffering a lat strain during his rehab. Junior Perez was acquired in a trade with the Athletics back in May and hit just .171 in a small big league sample last season.
Looks for the White Sox to make more of these depth moves as well as some bigger transactions as they look to build on their 84-78 season and get even better in 2027.
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