Sox keep 2 pitchers
The White Sox offseason is in its second day, but the team already has decided to bring back pitchers Freddy Garcia and Matt Thornton for next season.
The Sox exercised their 2010 club options on both pitchers Tuesday afternoon. Garcia will earn a base salary of $1 million in 2010, and Thornton will earn a base salary of $2.25 million under the terms of the deals.
Garcia, 33, went 3-4 with a 4.34 ERA in nine starts with the Sox after he signed a free-agent deal with the team in June. He is 121-81 with a 4.08 ERA in 11 major-league seasons with the Mariners, Phillies, Tigers and White Sox.
Thornton, 33, was 6-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 70 relief appearances in 2009. He earned four saves and struck out 87 batters in 72 1/3 innings, all of which were career highs. Thornton finished fifth in the American League with 24 holds, and he is the franchise's all-leader with 79 career holds.
The White Sox also have an option for 2010 on outfielder Jermaine Dye, but it appears unlikely that he will return. The Sox will need to pay Dye a $1 million buyout if they decline to exercise his contract option for $12 million.
-Tom Musick
