SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox kicked off their expected-to-be-busy offseason with what's sure to be a very popular move.
The team announced a new contract for Jose Abreu on Thursday, keeping the face of the franchise in a White Sox uniform through 20XX.
Abreu’s return always seemed a foregone conclusion, with the heavy-hitting first baseman spending the entire season talking about how badly he wanted to remain on the South Side, going as far as to pledge that if the White Sox didn’t re-sign him, he’d sign himself to a contract and play here anyway.
The feeling was mutual, too, with general manager Rick Hahn, manager Rick Renteria and teammates praising Abreu as a model player and a mentor for the team’s young stars in the making. Eloy Jimenez said Abreu had been like a father during the rookie’s first season in the majors. Abreu revealed that team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf told him he’d never wear another uniform.
Hahn joked during his end-of-season press conference last month that they likely won't be teaching this negotiation strategy in business school, also signaling yet again that it looked like Abreu would be back for next season.
"With Jose, we’ve heard his thought that even if we don’t re-sign him he’s going to re-sign himself," Hahn said. "We’ve heard Jerry’s thoughts about (how) he’s always going to wear a White Sox uniform. I don’t think they are going to be teaching this in negotiation classes in college any time soon how this one is unfolding," he said. "But my takeaway from all that is that there’s a strong desire on both sides to figure out a way to keep Jose in a White Sox uniform beyond this year.
"I don’t now quite the path it’s going to follow with Jose just yet, but more often than not when there’s that mutual desire to figure out a way to get something done, you wind up getting something done."
MLB
Things weren’t without their drama, however, as the White Sox extended a qualifying offer to Abreu at the start of free agency. There was speculation that Abreu might be the rare player to accept the one-year deal, as there might have been a weak market for his services league-wide and teams have recently been hesitant to sign players who have draft-pick compensation attached.
But all along, the most likely outcome remained a new multi-year contract for the face of the franchise, and that’s what came Thursday, the same day Abreu formally rejected the qualifying offer.
Abreu has spent six losing seasons with the White Sox, but that’s never diminished his positivity or work ethic. He’s as giddy about the team’s future as anyone and has cited the planned shift into contention as the reason he wants to stick around. Tim Anderson said “it’s only right” that Abreu return for 2020, a season in which the long-awaited transition out of rebuilding mode could take place. Hahn said earlier this season that it’s “very likely” Abreu would be around for the franchise’s planned good times.
Well, that’s where he’ll be, and that’s nothing but a good thing for these White Sox. Abreu’s consistent production has been nothing short of excellent in his six big league seasons, only the rare freak injury slowing him down. He’s a three-time All Star, including appearances in each of the last two seasons, and this season, at age 32, he was as productive as ever, leading the American League with a career-high 123 RBIs and coming just three homers shy of the career-high 36 he hit as a rookie in 2014.
Abreu’s off-the-field contributions are just as important, of course, and he’s been a mentor to players like Jimenez and Yoan Moncada as they’ve gotten their first taste of the major leagues. Luis Robert, the organization’s No. 1 prospect, figures to find his way under Abreu’s wing when he reaches the bigs next season.
Abreu has long seemed to be held in the same esteem as players who have their numbers retired and statues standing at Guaranteed Rate Field, earning the title of “Mr. White Sox” for this generation. It’s no surprise the White Sox are keeping him in that role moving forward as they plan to start seeing brighter days on the South Side.
After capturing the RBI crown, Abreu made his final prediction of the 2019 campaign, saying he did believe he'd be back with the White Sox for 2020. It might not have been terribly difficult to be prescient in this case, but he was nonetheless.
"Everybody knows my wishes and my desire to stay here," he said through team interpreter Billy Russo. "This is an organization I respect. This is an organization I really honor.
"I want to be here, and you know guys, I’ve been telling you that. Hopefully I’m going to be here."
Hope no longer. Abreu isn't going anywhere.
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