The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.25-million contract with right-handed reliever Matt Albers with a club option for 2017. Under terms of the deal, Albers will receive $2 million in 2016, while the White Sox hold a $3-million option for 2017 with a $250,000 buyout.
Albers, 33, went 2-0 with a 1.21 ERA (5 ER/37.1 IP) and 28 strikeouts in 2015, his first season with the White Sox after making the Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee to spring training. He held opponents to a .228 (31-136) average, including a .200 (17-85) mark vs. right-handers. Albers was on the disabled list from April 20-July 15 with a broken right pinky finger.
A native of Houston, Albers recorded a 1.14 ERA (4 ER/31.2 IP) in the second half, the lowest mark in the American League among relief pitchers. He threw 22.1 consecutive scoreless IP over his final 20 appearances of the season, the fourth-longest streak in the AL during the 2015 season.
Albers has gone 27-31 with a 4.20 ERA (258 ER/552.2 IP) and 389 strikeouts in 394 career games (23 starts) over 10 major-league seasons with Houston (2006-07, '14), Baltimore (2008-10), Boston (2011-12), Arizona (2012), Cleveland (2013) and the White Sox (2015). Over the last four seasons, he is 8-2 with a 2.32 ERA (44 ER/170.2 IP) over 157 relief outings.