Tag Archives: David Robertson

Abreu Agrees to Lucrative One-Year Deal with the Chicago White Sox

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Jose Abreu isn’t changing his Sox just yet…

The 29-year-old Cuban professional baseball first baseman has agreed to a one-year, $10.825 million deal with the Chicago White Sox, avoiding salary arbitration.

Jose Abreu

Abreu became eligible for arbitration earlier this offseason after opting out of the final three years of his six-year, $68 million deal, which he signed before the 2014 season.

The signing of Abreu over the weekend is the latest move in what already has been a busy offseason for the White Sox, who dealt away ace pitcher Chris Sale and center fielder Adam Eaton in blockbuster trades earlier this month.

Abreu also has been rumored as a potential trade candidate for the rebuilding White Sox, along with All-Star pitcher Jose Quintana, slugging third baseman Todd Frazier, veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera and closer David Robertson.

Abreu batted .293 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs last season. It marked the third time in as many seasons with the White Sox that he finished with at least 100 RBIs.

The American League Rookie of the Year in 2014, Abreu has a .299 career average with 91 homers in his three seasons with Chicago.

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

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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.