White Sox, Marshall agree to 1-yr., $2M deal

December 31st, 2020

CHICAGO -- Right-handed reliever and the White Sox avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year, $2 million contract.

The White Sox announced the deal on Thursday, one day after agreeing on a one-year, $1.375 million deal with outfielder Adam Engel to also avoid arbitration.

Marshall, 30, finished 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA in the abbreviated 2020 season during the White Sox first playoff appearance since 2008 and their first winning season since 2012. Marshall recorded eight holds, 30 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings and a 1.06 WHIP over 23 relief appearances, marking his second season with the White Sox. He averaged a career-best 11.91 strikeouts per nine innings and limited opponents to a .198 batting average (17-for-86), including a .119 mark (5-for-42) vs. left-handers.

Originally signed by the White Sox as a free agent on Oct. 30, 2018, Marshall has a 6-3 record with a 2.45 ERA over 73 1/3 innings and 78 appearances over his last two seasons. Marshall was one of nine White Sox pitchers who took the mound in the deciding third game of the American League Wild Card Series loss to the A’s, hurling two innings and throwing a season-high 45 pitches.

Staff ace Lucas Giolito and fellow right-handed pitcher Reynaldo López represent the only two arbitration-eligible players remaining on the White Sox. Marshall will play an important role once again in a bullpen featuring Aaron Bummer, Garrett Crochet, Codi Heuer, Matt Foster, Jace Fry, Jimmy Cordero and an expected veteran addition or two, potentially at closer.