White Sox agree to terms with Alex Avila on 1-year, $2.5-million contract

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.5-million contract with free agent catcher Alex Avila.

Avila, 29, was limited to 67 games with Detroit in 2015, batting .191 (34-178) with four home runs and 13 RBI. He was on the disabled list from May 8-July 2 with a bone bruise in his left knee.

Avila, 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, is a career .242 (504-2,084) hitter with 66 home runs, 282 RBI, 246 runs scored and a .345 on-base percentage over seven major-league seasons, all with the Tigers. He has thrown out 24.5 percent (124-507) of attempted basestealers.
 
"Alex gives us a veteran presence behind the plate who provides solid defense and a productive left-handed bat," said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. "He is a well-respected leader in the clubhouse who we believe will make us stronger."
 
Avila's best season came in 2011 when he was an American League All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner after setting career highs with a .295 (137-464) average, 33 doubles, 19 homers, 82 RBI, a .389 on-base and .506 slugging percentage over 141 games with Detroit.

He helped the Tigers reach the postseason each season from 2011-14, appearing in 34 games and hitting three home runs.
 
Avila originally was selected by Detroit in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Alabama, where he was teammates with White Sox closer David Robertson in 2006. His father, Al, is the general manager of the Tigers.