Anderson, White Sox agree on six-year, $25 million extension
If there were any doubts the rebuilding Chicago White Sox view shortstop Tim Anderson as a key part of their future, they've been erased.
As mlb.com's Scott Merkin first reported, the Sox and Anderson have agreed on a six-year, $25 million contract extension.
Under terms of the deal announced on Tuesday, the 23-year-old Anderson will receive $850,000 this season, $1 million in 2018, $1.4 million in 2019, $4 million in 2020, $7.25 million in 2021 and $9.5 million in 2022.
The White Sox hold club options for 2023 at $12.5 million and 2024 at $14 million. If either option is declined, Anderson receives a $1 million buyout.
Anderson, the White Sox's first-round draft pick (No. 17 overall) in 2013 out of East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., made his major-league debut last season and posted a .283/.306/.432 hitting line with 22 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 30 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 99 games.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder finished seventh in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
The 23-year-old shortstop also committed 14 errors in 400 total chances, a .965 fielding percentage.
Tightening up his defense and drawing more walks are goals for Anderson moving forward, but he clearly made an impact in his first season.
At the start of spring training, Anderson was completely on board with the Sox's rebuild.
"It's exciting," he said. "I know I'm going to be a big piece of it. A lot of these guys are really young. We have a chance to develop together and it's going to be a lot of fun."
Anderson is the latest young player to sign a longterm deal with the White Sox, avoiding the salary arbitration process and potentially losing out on the first year or two of free agency.
Chris Sale (five year, $32.5 million with two club options), Jose Quintana (five years, $21 million, two club options) and Adam Eaton (five years, $23.5 million, two club options) all agreed to similar contracts.
In early December, Sale was traded to the Boston Red Sox and Eaton to the Washington Nationals on consecutive days.
Anderson would have been eligible for free agency after the 2022 season.