Eaton returns to Sox
Adam Eaton looked at his return to the White Sox as “quite the circle.”
“To come back and have a reunion is pretty remarkable,” Eaton said Thursday during a conference call. “I'm just excited to be able to contribute and have a chance to perform.”
The veteran outfielder and the Sox agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract, the team announced Thursday. Eaton will receive $7 million in 2021, while the Sox hold an $8.5 million option for 2022 with a $1million buyout.
Eaton, 32, played for the Sox from 2014-16. He was traded to the Nationals for pitchers Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning and Reynaldo Lopez in December 2016. Late Monday, Dunning was sent to the Rangers as part of a trade for veteran pitcher Lance Lynn.
“Eaton was a target of ours for a variety of reasons,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “We wanted to improve our production against right-handed ( pitchers) and we wanted to not compromise defense in the process of doing that. Adam, we feel, addresses both of those needs and … allows us to … fill our other needs on this roster.
“We have flexibility for the balance of this offseason as well as in future seasons with this signing.”
Eaton spent the last four seasons with the Nationals and played a big role in the team's 2019 World Series championship.
“Through those experiences of '19, I can see what works and what will be successful,” Eaton said. “Through camaraderie and love for one another and pushing all in the same direction of wanting to win, every single day.”
Eaton played parts oftwo seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2012-13) before joining the Sox in a three-team trade in December 2013. He has a career .282/.360/.416 slash line with 60 home runs and 289 RBIs in 831 games.
Eaton and Todd Frazier had a much-publicized squabble in 2019, with Frazier referencing their time as teammates with the Sox in 2016. Hahn was asked about Eaton's fit in the clubhouse, saying: “It really isn't a concern for those of us who were with Adam during his first tenure with the White Sox, much less those of us who have been around this clubhouse over the last few years.”
Hahn said Eaton plays with an “edge.”
Asked about how he's changed since his time with the Sox, Eaton said: “From my own standpoint, four years later, 32-years-old, World Series champ and I've got two little boys. Everyone matures differently and at different stages of their life, and I feel like I'm no different. I'm just excited to be back and give everything I have to the city of Chicago. Looking forward to it.”
Eaton gives the Sox a left-handed-hitting option for right field. The Sox also have Adam Engel from the right side.
“Skip (Tony La Russa) actually just called me while Iwas on this (conference call), so I'm sure once I talk to him, maybe he'll give me a little better understanding of what I'm going to do,” Eaton said. “But everyone's got to try to pull in the same direction. I'd love to be an everyday player hitting in the top of the lineup, but if that is not my role, that is fine.
“I'm going to do anything, in any shape or form, to try to help these guys. May it be with the younger players, may it be baserunning or hitting, fielding, I've done a lot of dumb things on the baseball field, so I think I can shed a lot of light of what not to do. Ifmy role changes, I'm going to give the guys the support that they need in order to be successful.”