Tag Archives: Alex Avila

Avila Agrees to One-Year Deal with the Chicago White Sox

Posted on by
Reply

Alex Avila is ready to Sox it to ‘em…

The 28-year-old Cuban American professional baseball play, nicknamed “The Titanium Catcher” for the perception among baseball fans that he’s unusually likely to be hit by foul tips, has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.

Alex Avila

Avila was limited to 67 games with the Detroit Tigers this past season with a bone bruise in his left knee, batting .191 with four home runs and 13 RBIs.

He was an All-Star as recently as 2011, when he also won a Silver Slugger award. He also finished 12th in the American League MVP voting that season.

This past season, White Sox catchers combined to finish ninth in the AL in batting average (.230), 11th in OBP (.293) and 10th in slugging percentage (.376).

“Alex has a tremendous reputation as a leader in the clubhouse,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said.

“Obviously he knows the division quite well and provides a nice balance from an offensive standpoint given the left-handed bat and his ability to get on base and provide some power against right-handed pitching.”

The signing forms a reunion of sorts between Avila and White Sox closer David Robertson, who were teammates in 2006 at the University of Alabama. Avila was selected by the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2008 draft and made his major league debut in 2009.

In 683 games over seven seasons, all with the Tigers, Avila has batted .242 with a .345 on-base percentage and a .397 slugging percentage. In 2011, while helping the Tigers to the postseason, he batted .295 with 33 doubles, 19 home runs, 82 RBIs and a .506 slugging percentage.

Avila’s father, Al Avila, is the general manager of the Tigers, having replaced Dave Dombrowski in August.

Sánchez Nearing Return to the Detroit Tigers Roster

Posted on by
Reply

Aníbal Sánchez may be return to the pitcher’s mound soon…

The 30-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers threw about 50 pitches in a simulated game Sunday and could possibly be activated this week.

Aníbal Sánchez

Sánchez, the right-hander who holds the Tigers franchise record for strikeouts in a single game (17), went on the disabled list Aug. 9 with a strained right chest muscle. The simulated game came before the before the Tigers played an away game against Kansas City Royals.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus says if Sanchez feels good the next few days “my guess is he’d be activated Wednesday or Thursday.” Sanchez is 8-5 with a 3.46 ERA in 21 starts, and Ausmus says he could be used in relief.

Catcher Alex Avila has not played since Sept. 14 because of a concussion but could be available Monday if he feels fine and passes concussion clearance tests. Avila is hitting .223 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Avila Agrees to One-Year Deal with the Detroit Tigers

Posted on by
Reply

Alex Avila won’t be motoring out of the Motor City anytime soon…

The 27-year-old Cuban-American professional baseball catcher has agreed to a one-year-deal with the Detroit Tigers in a deal that avoids arbitration.

Alex Avila

The agreement is for $4.35 million, sources tell ESPN, and has a $5.4 million option for 2015, which triggers if Avila is selected to the All-Star team or makes the top 10 in MVP or Silver Slugger voting in 2014.

Avila, an All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2011, hit .227 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs in 102 games last year for Detroit, his worst hitting performance since his first full season in 2010. He hit .303 after the All-Star break.

Avila had just five hits in 11 postseason games last season.

He was an All-Star and a Silver Slugger in 2011, his second full year in the major leagues. He led the American League in runners caught stealing in 2011 and ’12.

He has a .254 career average with 51 homers and 222 RBIs over 492 games and five seasons with the Tigers.