Three years ago, Sergio Santos was a shortstop prospect going nowhere. Now an integral part of Chicago’s bullpen, the right-hander has agreed to sign a three-year, $8.25MM deal with the White Sox, according to the team. The contract includes three guaranteed years (2012-14) and three option years for the White Sox (2015-17).
Santos, a 2002 first round pick, emerged as Chicago's closer this year. He saved 30 games and posted a 3.55 ERA with 13.1 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 63 1/3 innings. Since he didn't start pitching professionally until he joined the White Sox organization in 2009, they're intimately familiar with his arm history.
Santos obtains $1MM in 2012, $2.75MM in 2013 and $3.75MM in 2014. The White Sox have a $6MM option for 2015, an $8MM option for 2016 and an $8.75MM option for 2017 (they will have to pay $750K to decline any of the option years). The guaranteed portion of the deal buys out one pre-arbitration season and two arbitration seasons.
The deal, which appears to be modeled on the one Joakim Soria signed with the Royals in 2008, includes club options for two of Santos' free agent years. The White Sox also limit Santos' arbitration earning power by locking him up now. Yet it's not hard to see why Santos, a converted shortstop who didn't have a job after the Twins released him three offseasons ago, accepted the offer. The Paragon Sports International client gets security in the deal instead of going year to year through the arbitration process.
Seems like a pretty good deal to me…Sergio has elite stuff and we only have to pay 8.25 over three
Wow, good deal for someone who came up as a shortstop.
This reminds me of the deal that Joakim Soria signed a few years ago… three guaranteed years and three option years.
EDIT: Really close to what Soria got (he received 8.75 guaranteed) -> link to mlbcontracts.blogspot.com
Can you post his stats, Ben?
Just click on his name and it will take you to bbr.
I know – basic stats are just nice to see within posts like these.
“Wait… he’s gone? Like really gone? Like gone gone? Sure, I’ll sign. Whaddya got?”
Still don’t really trust him in the closer role, nice deal for the Sox though and it’s a very attractive contract for potential trade partners.
Sox still need a closer
and some hitters.
We have hitters we need a hitting coach who can coach them
Why exactly do they need a closer? It’s only his second year pitching and he out up monster numbers. Remember he didn’t become the full time closer untill about a month into the season. And with Thornton and Crain at the back end with him( both have closer stuff to give Santos a break) the sox have a dominate back end of the pen. He is rsuoer close to being an elite closer and again it was only his second year closing. I would say the sox have their closer. At what might be a bargain. Kenny taking a page out of AA’s book. Nice signing.
The White Sox decided to limit his innings during midseason, hence all the one out saves and giving up chances to Sale down the stretch… amazing this went unnoticed, and people attributed it to him not being trusted. The real reason was clear, and he will definitely emerge as THE closer in the coming years, period.
Nice deal for the White Sox. Looks like Santos might have been hedging against a catastrophic injury, which isn’t a bad idea considering how hard he throws.
Great contract for Chicago.
A good deal for both parties. Santos gets job security and good dough. The Sox get a least an above-average middle reliever for a reasonable price.
Wow, Santos robbed Chi.
According to FanGraphs, Santos’ value was $7.3MM in 2011 alone. Your username reveals your bias (and is also somewhat ironic).
Except paying 3 mil for a closer is stupid. Paying 3 mil for any reliever is stupid. Oh and lol at you for jumping to conclusions.
It isn’t stupid. Barring a collapse, he’d be set to make much more than this deal would pay him via arbitration. This isn’t free agency. He was under team control for three more years as it was. With this deal the Sox have some cost certainty, and, odds are, quite a bit of savings over what arbitration would award him. It’s a great deal for both sides. You seem to be the only one that disagrees, and as I mentioned, your name reveals why.
Also, position players have a much bigger impact then relievers. Closers are so overrated, it’s laughable.
Actually, Mauer robbed the twins with his huge contract.
paying $23 million for a singles hitter to warm up the bench and clog the DL is so much smarter.
Please show me where I said Mauer’s contract was a good deal.
please show me where i was talking about Mauer
No way! The options years are really steep, but the three-year deal is an excellent value. This guy is making less than Crain and Guerrier over the next three years, I believe.
It’s a good deal. He has elite stuff, and it’ll be nice to see what he can do with a manager that knows how to use a bullpen properly. He’s going to have to keep working some things out though.
Those option years will take care of themselves…he has a few seasons to prove he’s worth their being exercised.