Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Detroit Tigers’ Curtis Granderson, tying the game at 3-3, during the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 11, 2009, in Chicago. The White Sox avoided extra innings with a Scott Podsednik walkoff RBI-single for a 4-3 win. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
AP
The White Sox and reliever Bobby Jenks avoided arbitration on Saturday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.5 million contract. Jenks, who turns 29 in March, will receive a $1.9 million raise over a 2009 season that saw him post a 3.79 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 27 saves in 35 chances.
Jenks fought a very public battle with the White Sox over the past few months about his conditioning, a conflict some thought could lead to him possibly being traded or even non-tendered in December. Amid concerns about his weight, Jenks was sidelined during the season with kidney stones and missed the final 12 games of the season with a strained calf muscle.
2009 was mostly a reversal of fortunes for Jenks, as his strikeout rate rebounded (8.27 K/9 from 5.55 K/9 in 2008) and he saw some more giddy-up on his fastball, but he gave up a career-high nine home runs in 53 1/3 innings, ultimately inflating his ERA. Pretty fluky, really, since he’s primarily a groundball pitcher. Still, the conditioning angle is something to watch this spring, as the White Sox have Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz at the ready should Jenks continue to fall out of favor in the organization.
The White Sox also avoided arbitration with outfielder Carlos Quentin on Saturday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.2 million contract. Limited to just 99 games last season due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, the 27-year-old Quentin batted .236/.323/.456 with 21 homers and 56 RBI.