Tim Anderson deal ‘win-win’ for both sides, White Sox GM says

SHARE Tim Anderson deal ‘win-win’ for both sides, White Sox GM says
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Tim Anderson has played in 99 major league games. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Tim Anderson hasn’t even completed a full season in the major leagues, and he’s already a $25 million man.

The White Sox on Tuesday announced a six-year extension with their young shortstop — a deal that could reach $51.5 million, including two club options in 2023 and 2024.

Anderson will receive $850,000 in 2017, $1 million in 2018, $1.4 million in 2019, $4  million in 2020, $7.25 million in 2021 and $9.5 million in 2022. The Sox hold club options for 2023 at $12.5 million and 2024 at $14 million. If either is declined, Anderson will get a $1 million buyout.

“It’s a blessing to be able to get it done,” Anderson said. “Now I can go out and play and have fun. It’s been a hectic few days. Now it’s just about having fun.”

Anderson, 23, wasn’t eligible to become a free agent until after the 2022 season and wouldn’t be eligible for arbitration until at least 2020. The deal gives Anderson, who is married and has a young daughter, guaranteed financial security while giving the Sox control over two would-be free-agent seasons, through 2024.

“We think it has the potential to be a win-win for both sides,” general manager Rick Hahn said.

As reasons for paying him before it’s necessary, Hahn cited Anderson’s ability, work ethic and a strong belief the money won’t change him.

“He’s about trying to be great and trying to win championships,” Hahn said. “He’s not doing this for the money.”

Anderson certainly felt like a winner standing outside the Sox’ clubhouse at their spring-training facility Tuesday.

“For me to be able to tell my mom this, to see the smile on her face, was just priceless,” Anderson said. “It still seems unreal. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I was up all night last night talking to my mom and my brother and my dad. It’s just a great feeling for me to be able to tell my family that.”

The deal is the richest for a player with less than a year of service time since the Tampa Bay Rays signed right-hander Chris Archer, then 25, for $20   million over six years in 2014. Archer’s deal will be worth a total of $43.75 million if the Rays pick up team options for 2020 and 2021.

Anderson, a first-round draft choice (17th overall) in 2013, batted .283 with nine homers, 10 stolen bases, 30 RBI and a .738 OPS in 99 games in 2016. The Sox love his makeup and were thrilled with his steady, productive performance at a premium position after they called him up June 10. They might encourage him to cut down on strikeouts and walk more, but aside from that, there’s not much not to like. They view him as a centerpiece of their ongoing rebuilding plan.

“It’s important for us to get the cost certainty and added control,” Hahn said. “That’s the real benefit to the club going forward — that we have our potential shortstop under control into his early 30s over the next eight seasons, and certainly within the window that we expect to be back competing for championships.”

Anderson’s deal is another in a series of team-friendly deals the Sox lead the league in — including signing Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Adam Eaton to multiyear extensions before they became eligible for free agency.

However, those deals, as good as they were, didn’t figure in building winners. Sale and Eaton were traded, and Quintana might be, too, as the Sox strip things down and try to build from the ground up.

“When we were able to make it work with guys like Chris and Adam around, it was certainly a benefit when it came time to trade them,” Hahn said. “The size of the return we got was influenced by the size of the contract we were under and the added control that came with them.

“We stand here today and fully intend for Tim to be here and be part of that next championship core. We’ve obviously still got work to do in putting that together.’’

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@CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com

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