Sox pick up Thornton's option for $3 million
As expected, the White Sox picked up the 2011 club option for $3 million on all-star relief pitcher Matt Thornton Tuesday.
Will the hard-throwing left-hander be back as the Sox' closer next season? With injury-prone Bobby Jenks expected to be nontendered, Thornton is looking forward to getting the chance to pitch in the ninth inning.
“There are a lot of open-ended questions to be answered, and Bobby is one of them,” Thornton said by phone from his off-season home in Peoria, Ariz. “But I would love to get that opportunity to close games. I think I've done it well enough over my career to show that I can do the job.”
One of the premier setup relievers in the game since joining the White Sox in the spring of 2006 in a trade from the Seattle Mariners, Thornton saved a career-high 8 games this season while blowing 2 chances.
“I hope I get the opportunity,” said Thornton, the Sox' all-time leader with 100 holds. “Right now, I'm just excited to be coming back. It's almost hard to believe it's going to be my sixth year with the White Sox.”
Thornton was 5-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 61 games this season. The 34-year-old lefty also led all American League relievers in strikeouts per 9 innings (12.02) and inherited runners scored percentage (12.9).
In addition to Thornton, the Sox also picked up backup catcher Ramon Castro's $1.2 million club option for next season.
“That's good news,” Thornton said. “Playing behind A.J. (Pierzynski), who plays 5-6 games a week, it's hard to get in there and produce. But Castro had a great year and he's really easy to throw to.”
The 34-year-old Castro missed the start of the season with a bruised heel, but he batted .278 with 8 home runs and 21 RBI in 37 games.
Pierzynski is a free agent, so there is a chance Castro will be backing up a new No. 1 catcher in 2011.
The White Sox also released right-handed pitcher Carlos Torres, who will pursue an opportunity to pitch in Asia.
Torres appeared in 5 games (1 start) with the Sox this season, going 0-1 with an 8.56 ERA. He was 9-9 with a 3.42 ERA at Class AAA Charlotte.