The Chicago White Sox have signed Adam Eaton, an outfielder, to a five-year, $23.5 million contract extension with club options for years 2020 and 2021. MLB.com's Scott Merkin reports that the deal includes a total of $1.5 million in buyouts if his 2020 and 2021 options are not picked up by Chicago.
Eaton was to be arbitration-eligible for the first time in his career next offseason. The deal forces him to skip at least the next three years of free agency.
Eaton will earn $850,000 in 2015, $2.75 million in 2016, $4 million in 2017, $6 million in 2018 and $8.4 million in 2019. As for the club options, he will get $9.5 million for 2020 and $10.5 million for 2021 with a $1.5 million buyout if either option is declined.
“We have a kid here who we think is going to be an essential part of our success over the next couple of years and is a rare piece in this game,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a press conference. “(He’s) a top-of-the-order player who plays in the middle of the diamond, plays a premium position, and brings you plus offense and the ability to get on base and run. It’s an important piece to any successful club.”
Eaton was traded to Chicago in a three-team trade back in December, 2013. The Arizona Diamondbacks sent Eaton to the White Sox. Chicago sent Hector Santiago to the Los Angeles Angels, who then sent Mark Trumbo to the Diamondbacks. Arizona completed the trade by trading Tyler Saggs to the Angels.
Many were suprised that Eaton was not traded straight-up for Trumbo. There was no real reason to add an arm because the trade would have been equal anyway, but that is just how it went.
Last season with the White Sox, Eaton was on the disabled list for a significant amound of time twice last season. He has an "all-out" type of player whose aggressiveness leads to injuries, but if he can become a little smarter, he should be able to stay fully healthy. The deal should be worth the risk.
He was sidelined with a right oblique strain during the season on August 8. At the same time, he was dealing with a broken finger middle finger on his right hand. Eaton also had a brused back that was diagnosed on August 6, which came after he crashed into the fence.
He was kept out for two games starting on July 12 with wrist and ankle soreness, but it was before the All-Star game, so it did not really matter. The second time he hit the disabled list was on May 3 because of a hamstring strain. After recovering, he still felt the pain of the soreness and was on and off for a month.
“Certainly, his style of play and his size lend themselves to injury,” Hahn said. “That said, I think he has become a smarter player in the last year. There is always going to be some fluky stuff that happens and the occasional shut down for a few days to rest his legs, but the benefit to keep him around here three extra seasons beyond the original control, in our opinion, was worth the risk that we were potentially undertaking.”
The reason it all might pay off is because of Eaton's skill in the field and at the plate. The 26-year-old slashed .300/.362/.401 with one home run and 35 RBI over 123 games and 486 at-bats. Eaton led the league with 10 triples. It is only logical that his 15 steals will improve because he will finally have a fully healthy season.