By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Chicago, IL

The Chicago White Sox have given starter Jake Peavy a two-year, $29 million extension after going 11-12 with 3.37 ERA in 32 starts last season.

Chicago holds a $22 million option on Peavy for next season but locked up the 31-year-old hurler for $14.5 million in each of the next two seasons, with a $4 million buyout.

"Jake Peavy showed again last season why he is capable of being one of the top pitchers in the American League," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "Early on in this process, Jake expressed his strong desire to remain with the White Sox, and we're happy to reach a deal that keeps him at the top end of our rotation and his influence in our clubhouse for at least the next two years."

In 219 innings, Peavy had 194 strikeouts and ranked among American League leaders in quality starts (third, 23), complete games (tied for third, 4), strikeout-to-walk ratio (fourth, 3.96), IP (5th), opponents average (fifth, .234), shutouts (tied for seventh, 1), strikeouts (eighth), ERA (ninth) and starts (tied for 10th).

"I'm really excited to come back to Chicago and build on what we did last year," Peavy said. "I made no secret of the fact that this is where I want to play. Chicago is a great city with great fans, and I can't think of a better place to try and win a championship. With the guys we have coming back, I think we have a great opportunity to accomplish some special things."

Another starter, Gavin Floyd, will rejoin Peavy in the rotation after the White Sox exercised their $9.5 million option in 2013.

Floyd went 12-11 with a 4.29 ERA in 168 innings and 144 strikeouts in 29 starts last season.

The White Sox, however, declined options on Kevin Youkilis ($13 million) and Brett Myers ($10 million), settling for respective buyouts of $1 million and $3 million, respectively. Youkilis and Myers are now free agents but the White Sox can re-sign them.

Myers went 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 35 relief appearances with the White Sox in 2012. He was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros on July 21.

Youkilis batted .236 with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs and 47 runs scored in 80 games with the White Sox last season. He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox along with cash considerations in exchange for Brent Lillibridge and right-handed pitcher Zach Stewart June 24.

 

 

White Sox Ink Peavy to Two-Year Extension, Exercise Option on Floyd