The White Sox on Friday handled pressing contract issues and avoided arbitration with their five eligible players, including closer Alex Colome.
Colome will make $10,532,500 in 2020. That’s a $3,207,500 raise from last season when he posted a 2.80 ERA over 61 innings.
The Sox also struck deals with right-hander Evan Marshall, left-hander Carlos Rodon, infielder Leury Garcia and outfielder Nomar Mazara.
Marshall will earn $1.1 million, Rodon will get $4.45 million and Garcia will make $3.25 million. Mazara, whom the Sox acquired in a trade with the Rangers last month, agreed to a $5.56 million salary.
In 2019, Marshall made $453,568 and Rodon, who’s expected to miss the first half of this season while he recovers from Tommy John surgery, earned $4.2 million. Meanwhile, Garcia made $1.55 million and Mazara $3.3 million last year.
The Sox’ nearly $120 million payroll for 2020 is the highest it’s been since 2011.
Friday is the deadline for arbitration-eligible players and teams to exchange salary figures. If an agreement is not reached, an arbitrator determines the salary at a hearing in February.
The Sox historically have avoided going to arbitration. Before they lost to Avisail Garcia and Yolmer Sanchez in 2018, the Sox hadn’t gone to arbitration since right-hander Keith Foulke in 2001.
On another note, right-hander Tayron Guerrero and left-hander Kodi Medeiros cleared waivers and have been outrighted to Class AAA Charlotte.
