The Chicago White Sox's stealth pursuit of free agent Melky Cabrera paid off. The well-traveled outfielder agreed to a three-year deal late Saturday.
MLB.com confirmed the 30-year-old Cabrera agreed to a deal worth an estimated $42 million.
Cabrera carries some baggage after being suspended for 50 games in 2012, when he played for San Francisco, for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. That mistake cost him a National League batting title. He was batting .346 when suspended, but at his request MLB disqualified him.
The switch-hitting Cabrera, who began his career with the Yankees in 2005 and has also played for Kansas City and Toronto, is a career .286 hitter with a .339 on-base percentage.
The move adds to a big offseason for Chicago. Among Adam La Roche, David Robertson and Cabrera, the White Sox have spent over $113 million on three key free agents while filling holes at DH, closer and left field. They also acquired Athletics starter Jeff Samardzija in a six-player deal.
Lester's deal sets records
• Pitcher Jon Lester's deal with the Chicago Cubs breaks a Major League Baseball record for largest signing bonus and biggest upfront payment, a person familiar with the agreement said. The deal calls for a $30 million signing bonus.The previous signing bonus high had been Vernon Wells' $25.5 million with Toronto in 2008. Lester's upfront payment of $15 million tops the $14 million mark set this month by Cuban Yasmany Tomas in a deal with Arizona.
