White Sox extend Adam Eaton

More big news broke for the White Sox today, as center fielder Adam Eaton was given a 5-year extension through the 2019 season with club options for 2020 and 2021.

Eaton, 26, hit .300/.362/.401 for the White Sox last season in 123 games while emerging as a fan favorite with his high-effort style of play and outgoing personality. He led the American League with 10 triples and played a good center field, accumulating 5.2 bWAR. The deal gives the White Sox further cost certainty with their current core of Eaton, Jose Abreu, Jose Quintana, and Chris Sale. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune first broke the news.

Here's a breakdown of Eaton's annual salaries and option prices, as reported by Colleen Kane and Dan Hayes

• 2015: $850 thousand
• 2016: $2.75 million
• 2017: $4.00 million
• 2018: $6.00 million
• 2019: $8.40 million
• 2020: $9.50 million (club option, $1.5 million buyout)
• 2021: $10.50 million (club option, $1.5 million buyout)

The contract buys out all three of Eaton's arbitration seasons (2016 - 2018) and his first season of free agency in 2019. Assuming Eaton's health and performance hold up, this extension could represent a great bargain for the White Sox relative to Eaton's potential price in free agency for 2019-2021, his age 30-32 seasons. The extension makes sense from Eaton's standpoint as well, as the injury-prone outfielder now has a good deal of well-earned security for his future.