White Sox in arbitration for first time in 17 years

Staying in Chicago
By Gary Is
January 22 2018

The Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has been busy this offseason with four ballplayers agreeing contracts on Friday but two others could go to salary abritration.  

The Southsiders avoided arbitration with four ballplayers including slugger Jose Abreu but couldn't agree terms with outfielder Avisail Garcia or infielder Yolma Sanchez

First baseman Abreu today signed a $13 million contract to stay at Guaranteed Rate Field for another year along with infielder Leury Garcia ($1.175 million) and left-handed pitchers Luis Avilan ($2.450 million) and Carlos Rodon ($2.3 million). Two ballplayers however are holding out and could send the White Sox to arbitration for the first time in seventeen years.

Avisail Garcia had a good year in 2017 posting a .330 batting average, the third highest in the majors, as well as hitting 18 home runs, 80 RBIs and 27 doubles. He filed at $6.7 million while the White Sox filed at $5.85 million so arbitration is likely. The last time the White Sox went to an arbitration hearing was back in 2001 when esteemed reliever Keith Foulke successfully claimed an extra $900,000.

Infielder Yolma Sanchez (.267 with 129 hits, 59 RBI and 12 homeruns) joins Garcia in arbitration after he and the White Sox couldn't agree terms.