FILE PHOTO: Sep 29, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) runs to first base after being hit by a pitch for the second time against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago White Sox agreed Friday to a three-year, $50 million contract extension with All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu.
Abreu already had accepted the team’s one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer, essentially making Friday’s move a two-year, $32.2 million extension.
“Everybody knows the group of talented players that we have, and I want to help guide them and together make the Chicago White Sox a championship team,” Abreu said through an interpreter Friday. “There’s not any doubt that we are going to be really good because I know these guys. I’ve been working with them. And I know their desire to get better, their desire to compete and their desire to be champions.”
The White Sox have become the fastest deal maker in the offseason. The Abreu contract comes one day after they signed catcher Yasmani Grandal to a four-year, $73 million free-agent deal.
Abreu, 32, batted .284 this past season with 33 home runs and an American League-leading 123 RBIs. The three-time All-Star is a career .293 hitter with 179 home runs and 611 RBIs over six seasons.
In addition to a $5 million signing bonus, Abreu will make $11 million in 2020, $16 million in 2021 and $18 million in 2022, with $4 million of that 2022 salary deferred.
—Field Level Media