Major League Baseball

White Sox add righty Putz to bullpen

Published Dec. 12, 2009 1:37 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

The White Sox have reached a one-year, $3 million deal with free-agent right-hander J.J. Putz.




"We've been monitoring him ever since the season ended and his daily workouts we're very familiar with," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said, adding Putz would be under no restrictions once spring training begins in February.

The deal includes $3.25 million in incentives, $250,000 based on appearances and $3 million based on games finished. The latter incentive gives Putz the ability to earn closer money if he assumes a ninth-inning role.

Putz will join a bullpen that also includes closer Bobby Jenks and left-hander Matt Thornton, strengthening the White Sox late-inning corps.

Putz has played seven major-league seasons, joining the Mets in 2009 after six years in Seattle. He is 23-19 for his career with a 3.24 ERA. He appeared in 29 games with the Mets before an elbow injury ended his season.

"He passed the physical with flying colors and we couldn't be happier with what was communicated to us," Williams added. "Needless to say, we feel from the top of our rotation down through the end of the bullpen, we feel as strong as we've ever been."

Putz will add some strength to the back end of a White Sox pitching staff that ranked seventh in the majors — second in the American League — with a 4.14 ERA.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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