CHICAGO _ The White Sox announced the signing of veteran slugger Edwin Encarnacion on Thursday.
The designated hitter/first baseman agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract. The deal includes a club option for 2021.
Under terms of the agreement, Encarnacion will receive $12 million in 2020. The Sox hold a $12 million option for 2021, which does not include a buyout.
He is the latest hitter the team has added this offseason, following the signing of catcher Yasmani Grandal and a trade for outfielder Nomar Mazara. The Sox also came to terms on a six-year, $50 million contract with Luis Robert last week, setting the stage for the prized prospect to be the team's opening-day center fielder.
Encarnacion, 37, had a .244/.344/.531 slash line with 18 doubles, 34 homers and 86 RBIs in 109 games with the Mariners and Yankees in 2019. He was out from Aug. 3 to Sept. 3 because of a broken right wrist. Sixteen of his homers came as a designated hitter.
"Edwin is a professional hitter, someone who makes each and every at-bat count," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "His long track record of power is impressive and as a veteran run producer, Edwin adds another threatening bat to our lineup, lengthening our batting order and increasing Rick Renteria's offensive options on any given night."
Encarnacion has been a consistent source of power, with at least 32 homers in each of the last eight seasons. He has 414 career homers in 15 years with the Reds (2005-09), Blue Jays ('09-16), Indians ('17-18), Mariners ('19) and Yankees ('19).
The three-time All-Star (2013-14, '16) has a .263/.352/.499 career slash line with 1,242 RBIs in 1,916 games.
The Sox did not get much production from their designated hitters in 2019. The group combined for a .205/.285/.356 slash line and 17 homers. Yonder Alonso had the most at-bats (146) at DH and had a .164 average with six homers and 18 RBIs in 42 games before he was designated for assignment June 28.
The Sox options at DH in 2020 could include Encarnacion, Jose Abreu, James McCann, Zack Collins and Grandal.
To make room for Encarnacion on the 40-man roster, the Sox designated left-hander Kodi Medeiros for assignment.
