Jenks agrees to 1-year deal
The White Sox haven't taken a player to a salary arbitration hearing since 1995, when they won their case against starting pitcher Alex Fernandez.
Given their history avoiding the messy meetings, it comes as little surprise that the Sox and closer Bobby Jenks avoided arbitration on Monday.
Jenks and the White Sox agreed to terms on a one-year, $5.6 million contract.
The 27-year-old relief pitcher was 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 30 saves last season, when he made $550,000.
Jenks, the Sox' lone remaining player eligible for salary arbitration, is the first pitcher in franchise history to record 30 or more saves in three consecutive seasons.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pounder saved 40 games in 2007 and 41 in '06.
Jenks broke in with the White Sox midway through the 2005 season after opening the year with Class AA Birmingham.
The right-hander saved 6 games in the regular season after taking over the closer's job from the injured Dustin Hermanson. Jenks also saved 4 games in the postseason while helping the Sox win the World Series.
Jenks ranks third in Sox history (behind Bobby Thigpen and Roberto Hernandez) with 117 saves. Last season, he became the second-fastest reliever in baseball history to record 100 career saves.
The White Sox claimed Jenks off waivers from the Angels on Dec. 17, 2004.