
Right fielder Adam Eaton is returning to the White Sox.
Eaton and the Sox agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with a 2022 club option, a source said, confirming reports.
Eaton played for the Sox from 2014-2016. The team traded him to the Washington Nationals after the 2016 season for Dane Dunning, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. That deal came one day after the Sox traded Chris Sale to the Red Sox helping to launch the franchise’s rebuild.
The signing comes a day after the team acquired pitcher Lance Lynn from the Rangers, sending Dunning to Texas.
Eaton hit just .226 in the truncated 2020 season, with 17 RBI. He received a $1.5 million buyout after the Nationals declined the option on his $10.5 million deal for 2021.
In 2019, Eaton batted .279/.365/.428 with 15 homers and 15 stolen bases for the World Series champion Nationals, and hit .320/.433/.560 with two homers against the Astros in the World Series. The Sox, whose trade for right fielder Nomar Mazara last offseason was a bust, plan to plug Eaton into a starter’s role. As the outfield now stands, it’s Eaton, Eloy Jimenez in left field and Gold Glove center fielder Luis Robert with Adam Engel as the fourth outfielder.
Eaton can play all three outfield positions. The Sox first acquired him before the 2014 season as a center fielder. In 2016, he was a Gold Glove finalist as a Sox right fielder.
Eaton owns a career hitting line of .282/.360/.416.
NBC Sports Chicago first reported the deal.
Contributing: Gene Farris