Hey, the Winter Meetings are being slightly Winter Meetings’y again today.
We have our first significant free agent position player to sign, and it’s outfielder Adam Eaton reuniting with his friends in Chicago:
White Sox in agreement with free agent outfielder Adam Eaton, source tells @NBCSChicago. It's a 1-year, $7 million deal with a second year team option for $8.5 million.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) December 8, 2020
We talked about Eaton back when his option was declined by the Nationals, which was a $9 million decision. At the time, it was a surprise, but we’ve become better adjusted to the financials of the offseason – or at least we thought we had – so it looks like an obvious decline in retrospect.
That said, although he’s coming off a down year, if he bounces back to his norms at age 32, he will certainly be worth this contract for the White Sox, who could then retain him for another year.
THAT SAID x2, this is hardly a bargain contract on a guy with question marks. Much like the pitching signings we’ve seen, there is now a data point on a position player getting a not-terrible short-term contract in free agency, despite all the hullabaloo about finances. Are teams cutting payroll? Yes. Were there some surprising option declines and non-tenders? Sure. But is this a data point about the market running red with blood? Come on. In years past, Eaton was exactly the kind of free agent who normally would’ve lingered on the market before signing a deal not all that unlike this one.
I’m surprised he got this much.
As for the White Sox, they’re clearly moving quickly this offseason to get their ducks in a row. Last night they acquired Lance Lynn to shore up the rotation, and now they’ve added Eaton to the outfield/lefty bat mix. Good for them. Push in while you’ve got the young core. It’s what teams should do.