GLENDALE, Ariz. — Tim Anderson hasn’t even completed a full season yet, and he’s already a $25 million man.
The White Sox and their 23-year-old shortstop have agreed on a six-year contract extension, a source confirmed. According to Ken Rosenthal, the deal is for $25 million.
Anderson could not have 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 engaged and has a young daughter, guaranteed financial security while giving the Sox some control over two would-be free agent seasons, through 2024. The deal has the potential to total $51.5 million with club options in 2023 and ’24, when Anderson will be 31.
Anderson batted .283 with nine homers, 10 stolen bases, 30 RBI and a .738 OPS in 99 games in 2016. A first-round draft choice (17th overall) in 2013, the Sox love Anderson’s makeup and were thrilled with his steady performance at a premium position in his first season. They view him as a centerpiece of their ongoing rebuild.
“Having a potential championship-caliber shortstop in place for the next six years or so is one less thing to worry about,” general manager Rick Hahn said last week.
“He’s confident,” manager Rick Renteria said. “He’s smart, and not trying to put a label on himself and not allow the noise, all the periphery and speculation of what he’s supposed to be or not supposed to be [affect him]. What he will ultimately be, time will tell.”
The Sox have not announced the deal, the richest for a player with less than a year of service time since the Rays signed right-hander Chris Archer for $20 million in 2014.
This one adds to the long line of team-friendly deals negotiated by Hahn and assistant GM Jeremy Haber. The Sox signed Chris Sale and Jose Quintana and outfielder Adam Eaton to multiyear extensions before they became eligible for free agency. Sale signed a five-year, $32.5 million extension with two option seasons during spring training in 2013. He was three years into his career.
The next spring, the Sox signed Quintana to a five-year, $21 million extension with two option seasons. He had two years under his belt.
When Eaton signed five-year, $23.5 million extension with two option seasons during spring training in 2015, the Sox picked up seven years of control, including two in club options. On a smaller scale, right-hander Nate Jones, coming off Tommy John surgery, signed for three years and $8 million after the 2015 season.
The affordable extensions heightened Sale’s and Eaton’s trade value in December, and it’s doing the same for Quintana, who could be dealt as the Sox rebuild for the future.
