Nov. 25--The White Sox upgraded their catching Wednesday by agreeing to terms with free agent Alex Avila on a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
The left-handed hitting Avila, 29, is a career .242 hitter with 66 home runs over seven seasons. Avila was limited to 67 games with Detroit in 2015, missing nearly two months due to a bone bruise in his left knee. He batted .191 with four home runs and 13 RBIs.
Avila has a career .345 on-base percentage and has thrown out 24.5 percent of attempted base stealers.
"Alex gives us a veteran presence behind the plate who provides solid defense and a productive left-handed bat," Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager, said in a statement. "He is a well-respected leader in the clubhouse who we believe will make us stronger."
Avila's best season occurred in 2011 when he was an American League All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner after setting career highs with a .295 average, 33 doubles, 19 homers, 82 RBI, a .389 on-base and .506 slugging percentage in 141 games with Detroit.
Avila has played in four postseasons with the Tigers (2011-14).
Avila was a teammate of Sox closer David Robertson in 2006 at the University of Alabama. His father, Al, is the general manager of the Tigers.
Avila's signing will cut into the playing time of Tyler Flowers. Geovany Soto signed Tuesday with the Los Angeles Angels.
