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A20 SPORTS
Friday 27 december 2019

AP source: White Sox agree to deal with Edwin Encarnación

By ANDREW SELIGMAN first base along with slugger playoffs for the 13th time
CHICAGO (AP) — The Jose Abreu. in 14 years since their 2005
Chicago White Sox have The White Sox have been World Series championship.
agreed to a $12 million, loading up around a prom- That's because young play-
one-year contract with vet- ising young core, hoping to ers established themselves
eran slugger Edwin Encar- challenge in the AL Central in the majors and promis-
nación, a person familiar after seven straight losing ing prospects remain in the
with the negotiations told seasons. Encarnación joins pipeline.
The Associated Press on former AL Cy Young Award Tim Anderson led the ma-
Wednesday night. winner Dallas Keuchel and jors with a .335 average last
The person spoke on condi- catcher Yasmani Grandal year. Yoán Moncada had
tion of anonymity because as big-money additions this a breakthrough season,
the deal has not been an- offseason. hitting .315 with 25 homers
nounced. The White Sox agreed and 79 RBIs. Eloy Jiménez
Encarnación is due $11 mil- Saturday to a $55.5 mil- showed pop as a rookie,
lion in salary next season lion, three-year deal with with a .267 average, 31
and a $1 million signing Keuchel, a day after final- homers and 79 RBIs. Prized
bonus, with the White Sox In this Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, New York Yankees designated hit- izing a one-year contract outfielder Luis Robert figures
holding an option for the ter Edwin Encarnación runs down the first base line after hitting with two-time All-Star pitch- to debut next spring, and
2021 season. a double against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of er Gio González. They also top prospect Nick Madrigal
Game 1 of a baseball American League Division Series in New
Encarnación hit 34 home York. brought back Abreu on a might also be ready to get
runs in 109 games for Seattle Associated Press $50 million, three-year deal significant time at second
and the Yankees last sea- and acquired outfielder base.
son. The three-time All-Star Encarnación batted .249 Encarnación, turns 37 on Nomar Mazara from the Keuchel and Gonzalez will
led the American League with 13 homers and 37 RBIs Jan. 7, has eight straight Texas Rangers. join a rotation led by All-
with 21 homers when the in 44 regular-season games seasons with more than 30 The White Sox were 72-89 Star Lucas Giolito that also
Mariners dealt him to New with the Yankees. He hit homers. He has 414 homers last season, well behind the includes Reynaldo Lopez
York in June. But the Yan- .308 while New York pound- in 15 years with Cincinnati, 101-win Minnesota Twins and Dylan Cease. Prom-
kees declined an option for ed Minnesota in the AL Di- Toronto, Cleveland, Seattle and 93-win Cleveland Indi- ising young right-hander
next season after he was vision Series, but slumped and New York. ans. But they believe they Michael Kopech is also ex-
limited by oblique prob- badly in the AL Champion- He figures to serve as the are in position to make a pected to return following
lems down the stretch. ship Series against Houston. designated hitter and play big jump after missing the Tommy John surgery.q