Former Texas Ranger from Mike Minor trade signs minor league deal with White Sox

White Sox, former Rangers outfielder Dustin Harris agree to minor league deal

The Chicago White Sox are adding outfielder Dustin Harris on a minor league deal, according to Sox Machine's James Fegan. He will be a non-roster invite in spring training.

The Rangers acquired Harris and outfielder Marcus Smith from the Oakland Athletics for left-handed starting pitcher Mike Minor, who hasn't pitched in MLB since 2022, late in the 2020 season.

Harris, who has an .820 OPS with 73 homers and 331 RBI across 2641 minor league plate appearances, made his MLB debut with the Rangers in 2024. He played in just two games with Texas that year, going 2-for-6 with a home run, double, walk and three RBI.

Harris, who was drafted in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Athletics, bounced on and off Texas' 26-man roster for the first few months of the 2025 season. The Rangers designated him for assignment at the trade deadline and he cleared waivers. The Rangers promoted him to the majors again in September due to Adolis García being on the Injured List. Texas outrighted him again after the season ended, and he elected free agency, leading him to sign with Chicago.

Harris had 43 plate appearances in 19 games with the Rangers this past season, going 8-for-40 with one homer, three doubles, three walks and two RBI. He had 425 plate appearances over 91 games with Triple-A Round Rock in 2025, slashing .285/.369/.436 with 11 home runs, 41 RBI and 33 stolen bases. He has 162 career stolen bases in the minors.

Although he had success in the minors this past season, Harris' exit velocity was among the worst in Triple-A. He can play all three outfield positions.

The White Sox, who shockingly signed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal this offseason, most likely won't make the playoffs next year. They have Andrew Benintendi as their primary left fielder and Luis Robert Jr. as their starting center fielder, and Everson Pereira will likely be the team's starting right fielder. However, Robert Jr. may be traded soon, and Pereira has yet to establish himself in the majors. Outfielders Derek Hill, Brooks Baldwin and Tristan Peters are also on Chicago's 40-man roster.

While Harris will have to outperform several outfielders to make the White Sox's 26-man roster at some point next year, it isn't far-fetched to suggest he could do it.