White Sox give Contreras $29 Million extension

CHICAGO -- White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras agreed Saturday to a three-year, $29 million contract extension after being Chicago's most effective pitcher in the second half of their championship season a year ago.

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
32 15 7 75 154 3.61

Contreras, who was in the final year of a contract that will pay him $8 million this season, will get $9 million in 2007 and $10 million each in 2008 and 2009. Every member of the White Sox's starting rotation is now under contract through at least 2007.

The 34-year-old Contreras was 15-7 with a 3.61 ERA last season after a dramatic second-half turnaround that saw him go 11-2 following the All-Star break. He was 3-1 in the postseason and was the Game 1 starter in Chicago's series with Boston, the Angels and Houston.

Contreras had career highs in wins (15), starts (32), innings pitched (204) and strikeouts (154) last season. He is slated to be third in the rotation this season behind Mark Buehrle and Freddy Garcia.

After winning only one of his first eight outings a year ago, Contreras turned his season around and found his control, much of it attributed to a change in arm angle to three-quarters.

He was steady down the stretch, while the White Sox watched a 15-game lead in the AL Central dwindle to 1½ games. He won eight of his last nine starts, helping Chicago win the division. The White Sox then won 11 of 12 games in the postseason for their first World Series title since 1917.

Contreras was wildly inconsistent for the New York Yankees after signing a $32 million, four-year contract following his defection from Cuba in October 2002. He was traded to the White Sox for Esteban Loaiza on July 31, 2004.

Contreras has a career mark of 35-18 with a 3.61 ERA in three major league seasons. He played seven years with the Cuban national team.

*Credit to ESPN.com*