Turns out the Chicago Cubs aren't the Chicago team making the biggest splash this offseason.
Everybody watch out for the White Sox.
The White Sox have reportedly signed ex-Yankees closer David Robertson to a four-year contract, nabbing the top relief pitcher available, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the deal is for $46 million.
The White Sox also are reportedly "close" to a deal to acquire starter Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics (which we wrote about here). That trade is expected to be official Tuesday, giving the White Sox a formidable 1-2 punch in Chris Sale and Samardzija.
In Robertson, the White Sox get a proven reliever who saved 39 games in 2014. Prior to that, he was an effective setup man for Mariano Rivera. The White Sox didn't have an established closer last season, instead spreading around saves between six pitchers.
The White Sox had the third-worst bullpen ERA in baseball last year (4.38), so relief pitching was on their to-do list and there was nobody better on the free-agent market than Robertson. To that end, the White Sox also signed Zach Duke, who was solid last year in Milwaukee, to a three-year deal worth $15 million in mid-November.
The Yankees were said to be chasing Robertson still, despite signing Andrew Miller on Friday. However, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports the Yankees never actually made Robertson an offer.
As for the White Sox, their other big offseason move was signing Adam LaRoche to join Jose Abreu in the middle of their lineup and replace Paul Konerko.
Another quality bat, a top-flight closer and a really good pitcher — the White Sox are doing quite well for themselves this offseason.
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