Inks 5-Year Extension
Inks 5-Year Extension, General manager Rick Hahn continues building a strong foundation for the Chicago White Sox at club-friendly prices.
On Friday, the team announced a five-year, $23.5M contract extension for leadoff man and centerfielder Adam Eaton, which will keep him under White Sox control through at least the 2019 season. The deal also includes two club options which could raise its value to $43.5M.
It's good coin for Eaton, but it looks like a potential sweet deal for the White Sox provided we see more of the Eaton that broke through in 2014.
Eaton, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December of 2013 in a three-team deal that also includied the Los Angeles Angels, played very well in his first extended look at the major league level. Over 123 games, he hit 300 with a .362 on-base percentage and .763 OPS out of the leadoff spot. That's excellent production, and was especially attractive to the White Sox given the issues they've had locating a full-time leadoff hitter.
Remember Ray Durham? He was the last full-time White Sox leadoff man, and his run in Chicago ended 13 years ago.
Eaton won't provide much power — he hit one homer in 2014 to go with 26 doubles and 10 triples — but figures to be a serious base stealing threat once he's comfortable. He swiped 15 bags last season, but averaged 39 over the his last two full minor league seasons. That seems like a reasonable expectation in the majors.
Defensively, Eaton rated slightly below league average with a -3.3 Ultimate Zone Rating, but was considered an excellent defender based on the measure of Defensive Runs Saved, which place him 12 runs above average. Once he gets another full season under his belt we'll be able to better gauge where he ranks, but If the short term tiebreaker is the eye test then Eaton fell on the plus side.
Basically, in Eaton, the White Sox have a plus hitter who bats in a key spot and a plus defender in a very important defensive position. That's a difficult combination to find, so Hahn is wise to invest.
The one concern, which may have motivated Eaton to give up his three years of arbitration and potentially his first three years of free agency, is durability. In 2013, Eaton missed significant time in Arizona with a UCL sprain in his left elbow. Last year, he was sidelined by oblique and hamstring strains. He could use a healthy season just to show he can handle the workload, but Hahn downplayed any those concerns on Friday.
“Certainly his style of play and his size (5-feet-8, 185 pounds) lend themselves to injury,” Hahn said. “(But) he has become a smarter player in the last year. There always is going to be some fluky stuff that happens and the occasional shutdown for a few days to rest his legs, but the benefit to keep him three extra seasons beyond the original control is worth the risk.”
By reaching the agreement, Eaton is now firmly entrenched as a core player in the organization. He joins the likes of Jose Abreu, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, who are also locked in through at least the 2018 season on affordable deals.
That wisely spent money gives Hahn the flexibility to bring in Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and David Robertson at bigger money to help fill in other needs. We wouldn't say the White Sox are a complete team as a result, but they're no longer a rebuilding team. The window to contend in the AL Central is open right now, and if all goes as planned should remain open through the end of the decade.
On Friday, the team announced a five-year, $23.5M contract extension for leadoff man and centerfielder Adam Eaton, which will keep him under White Sox control through at least the 2019 season. The deal also includes two club options which could raise its value to $43.5M.
It's good coin for Eaton, but it looks like a potential sweet deal for the White Sox provided we see more of the Eaton that broke through in 2014.
Eaton, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December of 2013 in a three-team deal that also includied the Los Angeles Angels, played very well in his first extended look at the major league level. Over 123 games, he hit 300 with a .362 on-base percentage and .763 OPS out of the leadoff spot. That's excellent production, and was especially attractive to the White Sox given the issues they've had locating a full-time leadoff hitter.
Remember Ray Durham? He was the last full-time White Sox leadoff man, and his run in Chicago ended 13 years ago.
Eaton won't provide much power — he hit one homer in 2014 to go with 26 doubles and 10 triples — but figures to be a serious base stealing threat once he's comfortable. He swiped 15 bags last season, but averaged 39 over the his last two full minor league seasons. That seems like a reasonable expectation in the majors.
Defensively, Eaton rated slightly below league average with a -3.3 Ultimate Zone Rating, but was considered an excellent defender based on the measure of Defensive Runs Saved, which place him 12 runs above average. Once he gets another full season under his belt we'll be able to better gauge where he ranks, but If the short term tiebreaker is the eye test then Eaton fell on the plus side.
Basically, in Eaton, the White Sox have a plus hitter who bats in a key spot and a plus defender in a very important defensive position. That's a difficult combination to find, so Hahn is wise to invest.
The one concern, which may have motivated Eaton to give up his three years of arbitration and potentially his first three years of free agency, is durability. In 2013, Eaton missed significant time in Arizona with a UCL sprain in his left elbow. Last year, he was sidelined by oblique and hamstring strains. He could use a healthy season just to show he can handle the workload, but Hahn downplayed any those concerns on Friday.
“Certainly his style of play and his size (5-feet-8, 185 pounds) lend themselves to injury,” Hahn said. “(But) he has become a smarter player in the last year. There always is going to be some fluky stuff that happens and the occasional shutdown for a few days to rest his legs, but the benefit to keep him three extra seasons beyond the original control is worth the risk.”
By reaching the agreement, Eaton is now firmly entrenched as a core player in the organization. He joins the likes of Jose Abreu, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, who are also locked in through at least the 2018 season on affordable deals.
That wisely spent money gives Hahn the flexibility to bring in Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and David Robertson at bigger money to help fill in other needs. We wouldn't say the White Sox are a complete team as a result, but they're no longer a rebuilding team. The window to contend in the AL Central is open right now, and if all goes as planned should remain open through the end of the decade.
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Inks 5-Year Extension
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