White Sox: Avisail Garcia Wins Arbitration Case, Awarded $6.7 Million
White Sox outfielder wins arbitration case with a solid salary increase for the upcoming season. The team also signs a pitcher to minor league deal.
After having his best season in a Chicago White Sox uniform in 2017, Avisail Garcia was able to win his arbitration case against the team. Garcia is set to earn $6.7 million this upcoming season for the Sox as he was awarded this amount by an arbitration panel.
The Sox wanted to offer Garcia $5.85 million, but the 2017 All-Star will make much more for the 2018 season. This comes a week after the team lost its case against Yolmer Sanchez. Sanchez was awarded $2.35 million for this season after the Sox only offered $2.1 million. Both players were the first to take the Sox to an arbitration hearing since 2001. Garcia hit a career-high .330 with 18 home runs and 80 RBIs.
More from White Sox News
- The Chicago White Sox were unable to sweep the Oakland A’s
- White Sox: Tony La Russa gave an update on his medical condition
- The Chicago White Sox continued to dominate the Oakland A’s
- Elvis Andrus has been an upgrade over Tim Anderson at shortstop
- The White Sox issued an update on Tony La Russa for the weekend
Although the Sox lost their arbitration cases with both Sanchez and Garcia, don’t expect the relationship between the players and organization to be shattered. Sox general manager Rick Hahn commented that the team would have liked to settle with each player, but they were unable to for whatever reason. This, however, won’t affect each player’s commitment to the 2018 season or their relationship with the Sox according to Hahn.
On Wednesday, the Sox also signed Hector Santiago to a minor league contract. Santiago, 30, pitched with the Sox from 2011-2013. He was part of the three-team trade between the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angeles, and Sox during the 2013-2014 offseason. The Sox acquired Adam Eaton in that trade.
Santiago was an All-Star in 2015 with the Angels. That season he finished with a 9-9 record and 3.59 ERA. In three seasons with the Sox, Santiago went 8-10 with a 3.81 ERA in 78 total games. He made 27 starts with the Sox, with 23 of those starts coming in 2013. However, he struggled after being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2016.
Next: WGN-AM Named Local Radio Partner for White Sox
The 2006 30th round draft pick made a total of 25 starts in two seasons with the Twins but compiled a 7-14 record with a 5.61 ERA. Santiago has been offered an invite to Spring Training this year for the Sox and could be a solid left-handed relief option for the team this upcoming season. If he’s unable to make the team to begin the regular season, expect Santiago to serve as pitching depth in the minors in the event of an injury for the Sox.