After failing to earn another promotion to the big leagues by July 1, outfielder Dustin Harris will opt out of his White Sox deal and test the free agent market in search of a new opportunity.
Outfielder Dustin Harris has opted out of his contract with the Chicago White Sox and will become a free agent.
Harris signed a minor league deal with Chicago back in December with hopes of making his mark in spring training and cracking the Opening Day roster. While he started the year with Triple-A Charlotte, he quickly earned a promotion to the big leagues on April 7, but lasted only eight days, appearing in six games before being designated for assignment by the White Sox.
Harris showed some promise during his brief stint with the team, posting a .771 OPS with a double and four walks over those six games.
He was then quickly scooped up on waivers by the Houston Astros, where he once again got an MLB opportunity. Harris was on Houston's MLB roster from April 19 to May 5, appearing in 11 games with a .576 OPS before once again being designated for assignment.
In 17 total games between both teams this season, Harris is batting .233 with a .635 OPS and five RBIs. He then re-signed with the White Sox on May 12, rejoining the organization on another minor league contract. His deal included an opt-out clause if he wasn't back in the big leagues by the end of June.
Harris will now test the waters of free agency to see if another MLB opportunity is waiting for him. And it should surprise no one if he catches on with another team.
In 45 games with Triple-A Charlotte this season, Harris is batting .312 with a .886 OPS. He has six home runs and 26 RBIs in 157 at-bats. That kind of production from a left-handed hitting outfielder nearing his 27th birthday is worth taking a chance on. It might not be for the White Sox, who already have a crowded group of position players and are trying to compete for a division title. But for a rebuilding club looking for value finds, Harris is an intriguing buy-low bat.
These things are inevitable for the White Sox, given where they're at as an organization right now. While it may be difficult to see players with potential like Harris, or even Jarred Kelenic, who had a brief stint with the Texas Rangers before also electing free agency this week, leave the organization for free, it's hard to argue with the decisions the White Sox have made given the production they've received from their outfield this year.
Back in March, we thought the White Sox might have the worst outfield in all of baseball. That has been anything but true. Sam Antonacci, Tristan Peters, and Randal Grichuk have all delivered. Braden Montgomery has arrived and isn't going anywhere. Even Junior Perez, in a limited role, has contributed since being called up from Triple-A after Everson Pereira landed on the IL.
It's a good problem to have, and it's unquestionable that players like Harris are better off joining an organization where they have a chance to get consistent MLB playing time.
Beyond the current MLB roster, the White Sox also have Austin Hays and Everson Pereira on the IL, with players like Rikuu Nishida and Nolan Jones waiting in Triple-A Charlotte as potential call-ups. As good as Harris has been in the minor leagues, I'm not sure the White Sox are going to miss him much in 2026.
