MLB Trade: White Sox & Rays Swing A Deal For Outfielder

Everyone has been waiting this season for the Chicago White Sox to deal prime trade candidate Luis Robert Jr. On Friday, the Pale Hose finally did trade an outfielder, and a former first-round pick in the MLB Draft. But it wasn't Robert Jr.

#WhiteSox OF Travis Jankowski has been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
— White Sox Nation (@WhiSoxNationCHI) April 25, 2025

33-year-old Travis Jankowski has been dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays after making just 15 plate appearances for Chicago this season.

He'll add some speed depth to the Rays system, where he'll likely play on their Triple-A affiliate at Durham.

Jankowski signed a minor league deal with the White Sox during Spring Training, and began the season with the big club, though that lasted for only about 10 days. Since then, he elected free agency and was brought back by the Pale Hose on another minor league deal. He's been with Charlotte at AAA.

As a depth outfielder, Jankowski was a speed demon in his early days in the minors, stealing 71 bases in his first year at High-A ball. Over the course of his time in the majors, he's ranked in the 90th percentile or higher in speed on five different occasions, including last year with the Texas Rangers.

He played in over 100 games with the Rangers in each of the 2023 and '24 seasons, and even has a World Series ring to show for it. In 10 postseason plate appearances during the Rangers' run in '23, he batted .333 to help them along the way to the championship.