White Sox Sign Dustin Harris To Challenge For Outfield Spot

The White Sox have reportedly signed outfielder Dustin Harris to a minor league contract. According to White Sox beat writer James Fegan, Harris will receive a non-roster invite to spring training. 

Harris marks the third outfielder the White Sox have added since allowing Mike Tauchman to depart in free agency.

General manager Chris Getz and his staff acquired center fielder Everson Pereira from Tampa Bay in a trade for Steven Wilson and Yoendrys Gómez, then added left fielder Tristian Peters from the Rays for cash considerations.

Given Andrew Benintendi’s declining defense, the White Sox’s repeated attempts to trade center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and Braden Montgomery’s need for additional development time in the minor leagues, the club remains in need of outfield help.

While Harris is unlikely to be a regular starter, he provides the White Sox with additional organizational depth. The 26-year-old has appeared in 21 major league games over the past two seasons, recording eight hits, including one home run and two RBIs, in a limited 46 at-bat sample size for the Texas Rangers.

While Harris is no longer considered a rising up-and-coming prospect, he did have a solid season in Triple-A last year, slashing .285/.369/.435 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs in 425 plate appearances. During that stretch, he drew 44 walks against 74 strikeouts. 

For a team that used 17 different outfielders last season, taking a flier on a relatively unproven MLB player makes sense. He has proven he can handle Triple-A pitching and looks ready for more of an extended test in the big leagues.

Over six minor league seasons, Harris has been a career .284 hitter with an .820 OPS. He also offers some versatility, with experience at all three outfield positions as well as both corner infield spots during his minor league tenure. Harris has also stolen 30 or more bases in each of the past three minor league seasons. That speed, combined with his defensive versatility, could make him a useful bench option for a White Sox club thin in at outfield depth.

Because Harris is out of minor league options, he has an outside chance to make the team. To earn a spot on the Opening Day roster, however, he would need to beat out Derek Hill, Everson Pereira or Tristian Peters, all of whom currently sit ahead of him on the depth chart, or hope that Luis Robert Je is traded before Opening Day.