White Sox sign Kotsay

The White Sox signed veteran Mark Kotsay to a one-year, $1.5 million contract for next season, the team announced Thursday.

Kotsay, 33, hit .292 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 40 games after the Sox acquired him from the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Brian Anderson. Kotsay played first base and outfield off of the bench and provided another veteran presence in the clubhouse, and he quickly became one of Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's favorite players on the team.

In 13 seasons, Kotsay is a career .281 hitter with 113 home runs and 632 RBIs. He has a .342 (26-for-76) career average as a pinch hitter, which ranks fourth among active players with at least 50 pinch-hit at-bats.

-Tom Musick