Catcher Alex Avila and White Sox reach $2.5 million deal

Defensively, Avila’s mostly been good at getting opposing base-stealers in his career (29 percent caught stealing vs. a league average of 27), but there’s cause for concern with him staying back there due to the knee and concussion issues.

Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Sox “upgraded their catching Wednesday by agreeing to terms with free agent Alex Avila on a one-year, $2.5 million contract”.

In seven seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Avila has slashed hit just.242, but his career on-base percentage (.345) and slugging percentage (.397) are both above average for the position.

The White Sox gain a solid defensive catcher who works tremendously with a pitching staff and provides leadership in the clubhouse. He ended up hitting. His best year in the Tigers organization was 2011 when he was awarded a Silver Slugger, an invitation to the All-Star game, and a 12th place finish in the MVP voting. He slashed.191/.339/.287 with four home runs and 13 RBI over 219 plate appearances. That season, Avila hit.

The White Sox used Tyler Flowers as their primary catcher last season. Furthermore, 59 of his 66 career home runs have also come against RHP. He comes to the White Sox a day after 2015 catcher Geovany Soto signed a one-year deal with the Angels. Flowers is a right-handed hitter; Avila is a left-handed hitter. Avila’s father Al Avila was quite clear that he did not want his son to remain with the team.