Pitcher Chris Sale agrees to five-year deal with White Sox

Chicago, IL, United States (4E Sports) – Left-handed starter Chris Sale has agreed in principle on a five-year contract extension worth as much as $60 million with the Chicago White Sox, according to a source.

The source said Sale will receive $35 million guaranteed over the first three years with club options for the final two that could add $25 million to the deal.

The contract was a big jump for Sale in terms of salary as he was expected to earn just $600,000 in 2013, his third Major League season.

The 23-year-old Sale went 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA and made the All-Star Game in his first season as a starter.

The White Sox and Sale did not confirm the reported deal.

Earlier, Sale said that he was trying to stay focused on pitching and working for the upcoming season.

“I just try not to concentrate on any of the external things going on,” Sale said. “It is just like leaving your wife and family home sick and you try not to bring that to the field with you. So I will just go about my business and everything will kind of work itself out.”

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has always been aggressive in signing quality young left-handers. In 2002, he helped then-GM Kenny Williams tie up Mark Buehrle to a three-year, $9 million deal.

In 2011, the White Sox also tried for three years to sign John Danks to a long-term deal before signing him to a five-year, $65 million contract.

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