When the Chicago White Sox handed Luis Robert a six-year, $50 million contract — with options through 2027 — three years ago this week, general manager Rick Hahn said the organization “put our money where our mouth is in terms of our level of excitement” about the rookie center fielder.
The 22-year-old Robert had yet to play in a major-league game, but the commitment by the Sox suggested he soon would be the centerpiece of a contending team for the rest of the decade.
In truth, putting their money where their mouth is never has been the White Sox way. Other than the seven-year extension slugger Frank Thomas signed after the 1997 season, which amounted to about $85 million after the option years, they’ve been one of the more conservative teams when it comes to dishing out big contracts.
