Chicago White Sox agree to three-year deal with Melky Cabrera
If it wasn’t official before, it’s official now: The Chicago White Sox mean business.
After taking the Winter Meetings by storm, acquiring Jeff Samardzija in a six-player trade with the Oakland A’s and signing free-agent reliever David Robertson to a massive four-year, $46 million deal, general manager Rick Hahn has struck again, agreeing to a three-year deal with outfielder Melky Cabrera.
Bruce Levine of The Score 670 in Chicago was the first to report a deal was in place. Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com later confirmed the money will land between $42-$43.5 million, which seems like a fair deal for both sides. It was believed Cabrera would seek out a fourth year in the $12-$13 million range, but the consolation here will be the opportunity to enter free agency again at age 33.
Regarded as the best free-agent hitter left on the market, Cabrera joins a lineup that already featured reigning AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu, and earlier in the offseason added veteran Adam LaRoche on a two-year $35 million deal. Though Cabrera doesn’t offer the same power upside as those two centerpieces, he’ll likely be along for the ride pretty frequently when they do connect. In 2014, he batted .301/.351/.458 and scored 81 runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Of course, an underlying storyline here is that Cabrera is another in the line of players recently suspended for PEDs to cash in with a nice little contract. Cabrera’s deal actually comes two full years after he was banned 50 games after he tested positive for testosterone. In wake of their 2013 suspensions during the Biogensis scandal, both Jhonny Peralta (four-years, $52 million with the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 2014 season) and Nelson Cruz (four-years, $57 million with the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 1) landed on their feet despite the obvious baggage.
For what it’s worth, the Mariners were also believed to be in on Cabrera, if not the favorite to land him before Saturday. So obviously the concerns they had doing business with Cruz stemming from his suspension last offseason have completely disappeared.
The White Sox don’t seem too concerned either. Since Cabrera rejected the Blue Jays’ qualifying offer last month, they’re also giving away a draft pick with the signing. Chicago’s first-round pick comes in at No. 8, so that will be protected. However, they’ll end up forfeiting their third-round pick for Cabrera after losing their second-round pick to sign Robertson. The Blue Jays will receive an extra pick at the end of the first round of the 2015 draft.
Indeed, Chicago is looking to get in the hunt right here and right now. Given their aggressive action so far, they look like the team most likely to take a notable step forward in 2015. But will it be enough in a crowded AL Central? Or perhaps the better question is, will the wheelin’ and dealin’ continue?
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
