While bigger moves grab headlines, the Chicago White Sox quietly added experienced depth with minor league deals for bullpen arm Tyson Miller and infielder Darren Baker.
While much of the recent attention has focused on the Chicago White Sox trading Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets — and following that move with the signing of Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million contract — Chris Getz and the front office have remained active in more understated ways.
Quietly, the White Sox have agreed to minor league deals with several intriguing players over the past week or so. Two in particular caught my attention, because both have big league experience and each brings a standout trait to the table.
The first is right-handed relief pitcher Tyson Miller.
Tyson Miller: A Bullpen Arm With Bounce-Back Potential
Miller, 30, was a fourth-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 MLB Draft. He’s bounced around six different organizations over the course of his professional career, but most recently was back with the Cubs — the team he debuted with in 2020 and made his latest MLB appearance for in 2024.
Miller made 58 appearances out of the bullpen in 2024, throwing 62 innings between the Cubs and the Seattle Mariners, though he spent the majority of the season on the North Side. He went 5–1 with a 2.32 ERA and posted an impressive 0.81 WHIP.
A left hip impingement landed Miller on the injured list before the 2025 season began, and he struggled to regain his footing. He never looked fully comfortable, returned to the IL multiple times after being activated from the 60-day shelf, and wasn’t productive in the minor leagues in the way he had hoped.
After the season, Miller elected free agency and now joins the White Sox on a minor league deal.
He’s not a player I expect to make the team out of the gate. The White Sox bullpen is already crowded, and the roster math is only going to get tougher following the addition of Domínguez.
That said, the advanced metrics on Miller in 2024 were very encouraging. He doesn’t throw particularly hard, but his sweeper is a legitimate wipeout pitch — one hitters consistently struggle to square up. If Miller can get healthy and comfortable again in Charlotte, it’s easy to envision him reaching the South Side at some point in 2026, potentially giving the White Sox bullpen a meaningful boost.
Darren Baker: Speed, Defense, and Baseball IQ
The other signing Chicago made was infielder Darren Baker, the son of legendary manager Dusty Baker.
Yes — that Darren Baker. The same one famously rescued by J.T. Snow after wandering onto the field during the 2002 World Series while serving as the San Francisco Giants’ bat boy.
Baker was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 2021 MLB Draft. He appeared in nine big league games for Washington in 2024, going 7-for-14 with two doubles — a tremendous cup of coffee to begin his MLB career.
Offense, however, has never been Baker’s calling card. His bat-to-ball skills are solid, and a .280 career minor league batting average is respectable, but at 5-foot-10 and 167 pounds, he doesn’t bring much power. That limits his offensive ceiling, even though he’s fairly consistent at getting on base.
So why is Baker worth a look?
He can run.
Baker stole 38 bases in Triple-A in 2024 and added 26 more in 2025. He’s also a fundamentally sound defender at second base, with reliable hands, good range, and strong body control.
Add in the fact that he’s the son of a legendary player and manager, and it stands to reason that Baker brings a strong baseball IQ and a deep understanding of the game.
The Triple-A numbers have never been eye-popping, but they’re consistent. You know what you’re getting with Darren Baker, and in a pinch, he can contribute as a bench infielder.
It may not happen immediately with the White Sox, who already have a crowded infield and will have to make some tough decisions at that position. But if Chicago finds itself needing speed and defense off the bench later in the year, Baker is a name worth remembering.
Both of these signings — Miller and Baker — have a legitimate chance to turn into big league contributions. They’ll be players worth monitoring in spring training and could apply pressure to incumbent members of Chicago’s 40-man roster.