White Sox re-signs Leury Garcia

11:05 am: The White Sox has officially announced both Garcia’s signing and $16.5 million salary, with additional details that Garcia will receive $5.5 million in each season of the deal.

TODAY, 12:57 AM: Garcia Gets $16.5 Million Guarantee, Heyman report.

November 30: White Sox have agreed to re-sign midfielder/midfielder Leury Garcia, reports MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). That would be a surprising three-year commitment for MDR Sports Management clients.

Garcia, 30, has racked up 474 appearances with the South Siders in 2021 – the second-highest total of his career – and posted a .267/.335/.376 batting line with five home players, 22 doubles, four triples and six stolen bases (in eight attempts). Dating back to 2017, when Garcia established himself as a fixture on the White Sox’s roster, he beat .273/.317/.388 while viewing the time in second base, point stop, the third point and all three points off the field.

Despite the need for a second daily keeper in Chicago, it doesn’t look like Garcia’s role will change much in his new contract. The Athletic’s James Fegan tweets that Garcia will continue as a commonly used backup around the diamond and, when injury is needed, as a temporary daily option.

ChiSox already has Yoan Moncada installed in the third base, Tim Anderson at the stop, Eloy Jimenez in the left field and Luis Roberts in the center. Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets saw some time off the field this year but was more relevant at the first facility – where Jose Abreu locked in – and/or specified attacker. Garcia is a good substitute anywhere, with over 200 plays in every position beyond the first turret, catcher and (of course) pitcher. It looks like Chicago will be making additions to the second facility, and an exterior yard upgrade is also possible.

It is rare for a free agent like this to receive a contract with a term of three years or more, although it is not unheard of. Ben Zobrist landed four years as a free agent with the Cubs, and the general expectation is that the super-utility star reigns Chris Taylor would eclipse Zobrist’s $56 million guarantee. However, both Zobrist and Taylor hit the market as above-average sellers with daily gains; that’s not true for Garcia. The deal is in some ways reminiscent of Padres’ three-year contract with Jurickson Profar, though Chicago will hope for better results than the deal offered San Diego in the first year.