The Chicago White Sox acquired minor-league outfielder Junior Perez from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor-league left-hander Jackson Nove. Perez was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Thursday after posting a .210/.273/.384 line over 36 g
The Chicago White Sox made a swift reshuffle in their minor-league ranks on Saturday, bringing in minor-league outfielder Junior Perez from the Athletics while sending minor-league left-hander Jackson Nove the other way.
Perez. 24. had been designated for assignment by the Athletics on Thursday after posting .210/.273/.384 across 36 games at Triple-A Las Vegas this season.. In 2026, he produced 5 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 19 RBI over 154 plate appearances.. His most recent season builds on a stronger stretch from 2025. when he hit .231/.348/.473 across Double-A and Triple-A. finishing with 26 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 33 attempts.
The Athletics had also viewed Perez as a potential long-term piece.. He was added to their 40-man roster in November ahead of the Rule 5 Draft after a strong 2025 showing in Triple-A that included a .298/.412/.642 slash line in 182 plate appearances.. His defensive profile helped earn that attention too: he has been described as having strong range and arm strength that allow him to play all three outfield positions. especially center field.
Offensively, the tools are clear but the results have not fully lined up. Perez has been credited with plus speed and the ability to generate walks, though swing-and-miss issues have limited his offensive consistency. He has not yet made his MLB debut.
After the trade, the White Sox optioned Perez to Triple-A Charlotte, filling the final spot on their 40-man roster.
On the return side. Nove. 23. moves to Sacramento after beginning his pro career in 2025 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kentucky.. In his first season. he finished with a 1.96 ERA over 23.0 innings for Low-A Kannapolis. allowing 5 earned runs while recording 41 strikeouts across 12 appearances. including one start.. His underlying metrics included a 59.5% ground-ball rate and a 42.3% strikeout rate.
The sequence matters here: Perez was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Thursday after a .210/.273/.384 showing at Triple-A Las Vegas. and the White Sox moved quickly to acquire him on Saturday—then optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte while using their final 40-man spot.. That same day. Nove’s 2025 production and profile backed up the swap. sending him to Sacramento as part of the counter-move.
Chicago White Sox Oakland Athletics Junior Perez Jackson Nove Triple-A Las Vegas Triple-A Charlotte Sacramento Rule 5 Draft minor league trade MLB prospect