Major League Baseball

Source: Danks to sign 5-year extension

Published Dec. 21, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The White Sox have agreed to a five-year, $65 million contract extension with left-hander John Danks, a major-league source confirmed Wednesday to FOXSports.com. The contract will become official once Danks passes a physical examination.

The move came as a surprise, since many in the industry expected the White Sox to trade Danks as part of their rebuilding effort. Once general manager Kenny Williams dealt closer Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays earlier this month, the next logical step seemed to be moving Danks and/or fellow starter Gavin Floyd.

With one fewer starter available via trade, the interest in a talented starter on the other side of town — Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza — should pick up.

Danks, who will turn 27 in April, was set to become a free agent after the upcoming season. After three consecutive years with an ERA below 3.80, Danks struggled (by his standards) in 2011, going 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA in 170 1/3 innings. But he should help stabilize the White Sox rotation after longtime ace Mark Buehrle left for Miami as a free agent.

It’s not clear what impact, if any, the Danks extension will have on the possibility of a Floyd trade. At present, the White Sox rotation includes Danks, Floyd, Philip Humber, converted reliever Chris Sale and the oft-injured Jake Peavy. Prospects Dylan Axelrod, 26, and Zach Stewart, 25, also could contribute in 2012.