(670 The Score) The White Sox have officially signed outfielder Eloy Jimenez to a six-year contract with two club options as well, they announced Friday evening.
The deal guarantees Jimenez $43 million over six years and could be worth up to $75 million over eight years. The breakdown of his contract is as such:
2019: $1 million, plus $5-million bonus2020: $1.5 million2021: $3.5 million2022: $6.5 million2023: $9.5 million2024: $13 million2025: $16.5-million team option ($3-million buyout)2026: $18.5 million team option ($3-million buyout)
Jimenez, 22, is the White Sox's top prospect and a consensus top-five prospect in the game. He hit .337 with 22 homers, 75 RBIs and a .961 OPS in 108 games split between Double-A and Triple-A in 2018. He was acquired from the Cubs in the Jose Quintana trade in July 2017 and has been viewed as a cornerstone piece of the rebuild since that time.
"My family and I are very happy and excited to sign this deal," Jimenez said in a statement. "It gives us the opportunity to ensure our future, but more importantly, to reinforce my commitment to the White Sox organization. All of my effort, focus and desire is to help this team win multiples championships and bring joy to our fan base."
The signing of Jimenez takes service time considerations out of the picture for the White Sox. That could pave the way for him to be on the Opening Day roster, though the team hasn't revealed how it will approach his timeline for arriving in the big leagues.
"Eloy is a tremendously talented young player who has impressed us with his baseball skills, poise and maturity from the moment he joined the White Sox organization," general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "We view him as an important member of the core we are building over the coming years and so are pleased to have reached this long-term agreement to have him in a White Sox uniform for many seasons to come."
