Today in White Sox History: December 22
A minor deal that paid dividends, on multiple levels
1980
The Red Sox mailed Carlton Fisk (as well as Fred Lynn) their new contracts — two days late. Because the MLBPA’s labor agreement with MLB specified contracts be mailed by December 20, the players were declared free agents the following February. Boston’s gaffe led to Fisk signing with the White Sox on March 18, 1981, and eventually playing longer and in more games with the White Sox than his hometown Carmines.
1986
Bill Dawley, who had a surprisingly solid, 1.6 WAR season as an April free agent sign, was swapped to the St. Louis Cardinals for Fred Manrique.
It was a steal of a deal for multiple reasons. First, Manrique was a part-time player who nonetheless put forward a strong 1987 campaign on the South Side. Second, as his role continued to diminish with the White Sox, he was the “other” player along with Harold Baines sent to Texas in 1989 in the absolute steal of a trade that brought back Sammy Sosa, Wilson Álvarez and Scott Fletcher.
That year, Dawley pitched his final games in the majors; two years after that, Manrique played his last.
2011
The White Sox signed presumptive ace John Danks to a five-year contract extension for $62 million.
True ace Mark Buehrle had held out some hope of returning, and that there was room in the rotation for two sharp southpaws. However, the White Sox made it clear they were moving on from the franchise icon, and Buehrle inked a deal with the Marlins for four years and $55 million. The crafty lefthander earned 11.1 WAR over that time, with a 3.77 ERA and 107 ERA+.
The Danks extension was such a disaster that in an almost unheard-of Jerry Reinsdorf move, the White Sox ended up buying Danks out of his contract, freeing up a roster spot in May 2016 and simply eating the final $12 million or so left on his deal.
Over his final five seasons, Danks was paid $62 million for 0.6 WAR, a 4.92 ERA and 81 ERA+ — making it possibly the worst contract extension in White Sox history.