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Jeff Keppinger, White Sox agree to 3-year contract

The White Sox may have their new third baseman in the short-term after agreeing to a three-year, $12 million contract with free agent Jeff Keppinger.

By Satchel Price
Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a three-year contract with free agent infielder Jeff Keppinger, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports. He'll be paid roughly $12 million over the life of the contract, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

The deal gives the club a versatile player capable of playing all four infield positions, as well as a solid contact bat that's posted a career batting line of .288/.337/.396, at a relatively reasonable price over three years.

With the departure of third baseman Kevin Youkilis at the end of the season, the White Sox were badly in need of a decent stopgap third baseman. Keppinger may not necessarily be the solution, but he gives the team a decent back-up that can ultimately settle into a utility role once a better option emerges.

It's unclear how exactly this signing will impact Chicago's pursuit of Youkilis, who is also reportedly receiving heavy interest from the Philadelphia Phillies, but this at least removes the possibility of going into the season with Brent Morel as the lone option again.

The White Sox have also been rumored to be interested in former Cleveland Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan, but it was reported recently that Chicago had not made him an offer yet.