White Sox avoid arbitration with Abreu, three others

The Chicago White Sox avoided arbitration with first baseman Jose Abreu and three other players on Friday.

Outfielder Avisaíl García and infielder Yolmer Sanchez remain unsigned for 2018 and are eligible for salary arbitration.

Abreu signed a six-year, $68 million contract with the Sox before the 2014 season. He had an opt out after the first three seasons and exercised it for the first time last year, earning $10.825 million instead of the $10.5 million in the original deal.

Abreu agreed on a $13 million contract for the upcoming season, up from $11.5 million in the original contract.

Last year, Abreu batted .304 with 43 doubles, 33 home runs and 102 RBI. He led the American League with 343 total bases and became the third player in major-league history to begin his career with four or more consecutive seasons of 25-plus homers and 100-plus RBI, joining Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio (1936-41) and Albert Pujols (2001-10).

The White Sox also agreed to one-year contracts with left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon ($2.3 million), new left-handed reliever Luis Avilan ($2.45 million) and infielder Leury Garcia ($1.175 million).

Rodon had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in late September and was given a recovery time of 6-8 months.

As for Avisail Garcia, he is coming off a career season in 2017. The 26-year-old right fielder finished second in the AL with a .330 batting average and established career highs with 171 hits, 27 doubles, 18 home runs, 80 RBI, 75 runs scored and 262 total bases.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Garcia requested a $6.7 million contract for this season and the Sox countered at $5.85 million. Garcia made $3 million last year.

In his first full season with the White Sox last year, Sanchez batted .267 with 12 home runs and 59 RBI while playing second base, third base, shortstop and 2 innings in right field.

The Sox haven't taken a player to salary arbitration since 2001, when reliever Keith Foulke won his hearing.