Report: White Sox, Abreu agree to $13M deal

The Chicago White Sox and first baseman Jose Abreu avoided arbitration ahead of Friday's 1 p.m. deadline, reportedly agreeing to a one-year, $13-million deal for the 2018 season.

Abreu was fantastic this past year, hitting .304/.354/.552 with 33 home runs and 102 RBIs across 156 games for the rebuilding White Sox. The performance led many to believe Abreu, who made $10.82 million last season, was due for a raise (MLB Trade Rumors projected he'd receive $17.9 million, an increase of $7.1 million, respectively).

Instead, Abreu's new deal is on the cheaper side, a surprise considering the 30-year-old made $13.3 million in 2016. His new salary could benefit both sides if the White Sox opt to deal Abreu this year as the first baseman has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, most recently with the Boston Red Sox.

In 2013, Abreu signed a six-year, $68-million deal the White Sox as a free agent from Cuba. Following the 2016 season, Abreu decided to shift his contract to salary arbitration for the remaining three years of his deal. He is under team control until 2020.