Eaton, Sox agree to new contract
Adam Eaton is officially part of the White Sox' core.
On Friday, the 26-year-old center fielder agreed to a contract extension that could keep him in a Sox uniform through the 2021 season.
Eaton signed a five-year, $23.5 million contract, which includes club options for 2020 and '21.
Under terms of the deal, Eaton gets $850,000 this season, $2.75 million in 2016, $4 million in '17, $6 million in '18 and $8.4 million in '19.
The White Sox hold a $9.5 million option for 2020 and a $10.5 million option for '21. If either option is declined, Eaton gets a $1.5 million buyout.
Eaton would have been eligible for free agency following the 2018 season.
Now, he is part of a contractually secure group of White Sox players that includes Jose Abreu, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana.
"To be in company with those guys, being signed early, it's a thrill for me," Eaton told reporters. "We've got a good group of core guys who are going to be here three, four, five years. It's exciting. The South Side should be proud and excited for that, some good arms and then myself and some other guys along for the ride. We're happy with that."
After being acquired in a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Dec. 10, 2013, Eaton played in 123 games for the Sox last year and ranked 10th in the American League with a .300 batting average and 12th with a .362 on-base percentage.
The left-handed leadoff man also tied for the league lead with 10 triples.
"Adam serves as a catalyst, brings a spark of energy to the ballpark each and every day and helps ignite our offense," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn. "He provided everything we look for in a leadoff hitter, a center fielder and a competitor after joining us last season.
"We expect him to be an important part of this team's success moving forward and are very pleased we were able to reach this agreement to keep him in a White Sox uniform for potentially the next seven seasons."
Eaton has been a solid fit on the Sox since he arrived in the deal from Arizona.
"Rick mentioned to my agent when I got traded that hopefully we'll have talks next year," Eaton said. "For me to prove him right, it was big for me to go out and hit .300 and play good defense day in and day out. And then to be able to have those talks is great.
"It's just confidence in the club and confidence in me, and I think it's going to be a lot easier for me to go out there and compete every day and compete at a high level with their confidence in me. It's a great day."
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