MLB: White Sox hope a busy winter will be the winning play

CHICAGO— Lance Lynn was thrilled to join a team eyeing a World Series run and to reunite with the manager who led him to a championship as a rookie.

The Chicago White Sox seemed like a perfect fit. And their new workhorse starter is ready to, well, get to work.

“In your career, you want to win,” Lynn said. “That’s first and foremost, to have the opportunity to come to an organization that really is making the push to win and win now. And you look at the team they have. They’ve got a lot of young star power. You’re stoked to come in and help push them over the top.”

The White Sox finalized a trade for Lynn with the Texas Rangers and reunited with free-agent outfielder Adam Eaton on Tuesday, boosting their rotation while addressing a hole in right field.

Eaton agreed to a one-year deal that guarantees him $8 million (U.S.), a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced. Eaton’s salary for next season is $7 million. The White Sox hold an $8.5-million option for 2022, with a $1-million buyout.

Lynn was acquired from Texas for pitchers Dane Dunning and Avery Weems. The White Sox have been busy this off-season, also hiring Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa to replace Rick Renteria.

“I think it’s pretty clear what our intentions are at this time,” general manager Rick Hahn said.

“We feel the window is open and we’re now gonna be aggressive in our efforts to try to put us in our best position to win championships.”

Chicago has a potentially dominant rotation with Lynn joining Giolito and Dallas Keuchel at the top — particularly if Dylan Cease harnesses his control and Michael Kopech delivers on his promise after missing 2019 because of Tommy John surgery and opting out this year.

The six-foot-five, 250-pound Lynn was 22-14 in 46 starts the past two seasons for the Rangers, with 335 strikeouts over 292 1⁄ innings. The right-hander

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has an $8-million salary in 2021, the final season of a three-year, $30-million contract he signed with Texas two winters ago.

Lynn spent his rookie year in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals, managed by La Russa, and the team beat the Rangers in seven games to win the World Series. Royals sign Santana: The Kansas City Royals agreed to a two-year, $17-million deal with veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, plugging one of their biggest offensive holes and providing some clubhouse leadership for a rebuilding club.

The 34-year-old Santana was an all-star two years ago in Cleveland, when he hit a career-best .281 with 34 homers and 93 RBIs. But he slid to .199 with eight homers and 30 RBIs while playing 60 games during the shortened 2020 season, resulting in the Indians declining his $17.5-million option for the upcoming season.

The Royals were in the middle with a .244 team average last season, but they hit just 68 home runs and were tied with the Indians for the sixth-worst scoring offence in the majors.

“One of our objectives this off-season was to add a middleof-the-order bat, someone that would blend in well with our current group, make us a lot better,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “Carlos certainly does that.”

Hammer honours: Abreu and Atlanta first basemen Freddie Freeman — the American and National League MVPs — were named this year’s Hank Aaron Award winners as the outstanding offensive performers their respective leagues.

Freeman, 31, was second in the NL in batting .341, OBP (.462), slugging percentage (.640) and OPS (1.102). The 33-year-old Abreu hit .317 with 15 doubles, 19 homers and 60 RBIs.