Left-hander Anthony Kay and the Chicago White Sox have reached agreement on a two-year, $12 million contract, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.
Kay, 30, pitched in the majors for parts of five seasons before playing the last two years for the Central League’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars. He sported a 9-6 record to go along with a 1.74 ERA over 155 innings this season. He struck out 130 batters and allowed 41 walks.
ESPN reported that Kay will earn $5 million for each of the next two years with another $1.5 million in incentives. The deal features a $10 million club option for 2028 and a $2 million buyout.
The New York Mets selected Kay in the first round (31st overall) of the 2016 MLB Draft out of UConn.
Kay made his major league debut in September 2019 with the Toronto Blue Jays, who acquired him and right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson in a July 2019 trade that sent right-hander Marcus Stroman and cash to the Mets.
He has a career MLB record of 4-2 with a 5.59 ERA, 47 walks and 88 strikeouts in 85â…“ innings over 44 games (seven starts) with the Blue Jays (2019-22), Chicago Cubs (2023) and Mets (2023).