White Sox Sign Danks, Quentin, Pena
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 18, 2011 10:06PM
With spring training just over the horizon, the White Sox are putting the finishing touches to getting their house in order. They avoided arbitration with pitcher John Danks, outfielder Carlos Quentin and reliever Tony Pena by signing each to one-year deals. The last time the White Sox went to arbitration was ten years ago with reliever Keith Foulke.
The key signing here is Danks, who's developed into a durable pitcher poised to become a staff ace. Danks rejected a four-year, $15.5 million offer two years ago from the Sox (as did Quentin). But he said he isn't worried that a multiyear deal wasn't done. "It's not at the point where it's do-or-die for a [multiyear] deal. Neither side is panicking," he told MLB.com
Quentin's deal is for $5.05 million. Coming off a wrist injury and his own niggling inconsistencies in 2009, Quentin put up respectable power numbers last year with 24 home runs and 87 RBI. Pena, who's become a reliable arm out of the bullpen for being able to handle long relief and spot starts, signed a deal worth $1.6 million.