White Sox Sign Anthony Kay to Two-Year Contract
The Chicago White Sox have officially signed left-handed pitcher Anthony Kay to a two-year contract worth $12 million. The agreement includes an annual salary of $5 million over the next two seasons, as well as a $2 million buyout option for a mutual contract extension in 2028.
Contract Details
- Contract Duration: Two years
- Total Value: $12 million
- Annual Salary: $5 million per year
- Buyout Clause: $2 million for 2028
- Incentives: Up to $1.5 million available
Player Background
Anthony Kay, who will turn 31 in March, spent the last two seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. He was previously a first-round draft pick and has shown promise as a strong pitcher.
Performance in Japan
During his time in Japan, Kay made significant contributions to his team. He pitched a total of 291 and two-thirds innings, achieving the following:
- ERA: 2.53
- Strikeout Rate: 20.9%
- Walk Rate: 7.9%
- Ground-Ball Rate: 54.5%
- Starts: 48 games
Historical Context
The White Sox general manager, Chris Getz, has previously opted for a similar strategy. Last season, former first-rounder Erick Fedde signed a two-year, $15 million deal. This move by the White Sox led to a successful trade in July 2024, where Fedde was exchanged for promising players including Miguel Vargas.
The White Sox organization is optimistic that Kay will yield comparable results as a pivotal addition to their pitching roster. As a key investment, the hope is that Kay’s history of performance can translate into future successes for the team.
More updates on Kay’s impact on the team will follow as the season progresses.
