Rick Hahn made his biggest splash since becoming general manager in October by signing Chris Sale to a five year extension worth $32.5 million, plus 2 additional club options that could boost the contract up to $60 million. Sale, the 23 year old who went 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA and made the All-Star Game in his first season as a starter, gets a lifetime of security and the White Sox get a potential ace starter at below market value through his arbitration years and beyond.
Hahn’s other moves in his first off-season have been mostly low key, resigning Jake Peavy and Dewayne Wise, picking up the option on Gavin Floyd, and signing Jeff Keppinger to a 3 year deal. The biggest newsmaker may have been the move he didn’t make, allowing A.J. Pierzynski to leave as a free agent and sign with the Rangers. With this move, he starts to put his own stamp on the franchise.
