White Sox Surprisingly Lock up Reliever Aaron Bummer to Rich 5-Year Extension
By Michael Luciano
The Chicago White Sox swung for the fences this offseason, adding the likes of Yasmani Grandal, Edwin Encarnacion, and Nomar Mazara. Rather than keep scrounging for free agents, the White Sox decided to sign one of their most reliable arms to a shiny new deal.
Lefty reliever Aaron Bummer has agreed to a five-year, $16 million contract extension, which is the largest deal in league history for a pitcher that does not qualify for arbitration and has never been a closer.
The shrewd Chicago #Whitesox keep locking up their young talent: They are signing reliever Aaron Bummer to a 5-year, $16 million contract. It’s the largest extension given to a non-closer who has yet to qualify for salary arbitration in #MLB history.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 22, 2020
Bummer went from completely average lefty to nearly unhittable in the span of one season. Bummer cut his ERA in half from 4.26 in 2018 to 2.13 in 2019, striking out nearly a batter an inning.
Bummer throws a heavy sinker that sits in the mid-90s with a nasty cutter and slider. If he maintains command of his strikeout pitches, he could easily pitch his way into a ninth-inning closer role.
Aaron Bummer contract:
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 22, 2020
2020: $1 million
2021: $2 million
2022: $2.5 million
2023: $3.75 million
2024: $5.5 million
2025: $7.25 million club option or $1.25 million buyout
2026: $7.5 million club option or $1 million buyout.
Bummer quickly became one of the most effective southpaw relievers in all of baseball, and the White Sox know that he's one of the lone bastions of competence in their bullpen. Locking him up is an extremely prudent move from the South Siders.