CHICAGO -- Cuban slugger Jose Abreu couldnt pass up the chance to play alongside his countrymen on the Chicago White Sox. Johnny Unitas . Abreu officially finalized a six-year, $68-million deal with the White Sox on Tuesday, about a week-and-a-half after the sides reached an agreement on the largest contract in franchise history. He is the organizations 17th Cuban player and the third currently on the roster, joining shortstop Alexei Ramirez and outfielder Dayan Viciedo. "I know there were other teams interested but the support that I would have from Cuban players like Alexei and Dayan and from the beginning, they were interested and showed their interest," Abreu said through a translator. "When it came down to where it will be, it was pretty simple to pick the White Sox." Abreus agent Barry Praver said as many as eight teams were seriously involved before the list was narrowed to five finalists. All five final offers were at least $60 million. The 26-year-old Abreu will receive a signing bonus of $10 million, with $6 million payable upon approval by Major League Baseball and $4 million due Nov. 14, 2014. He will get salaries of $7 million in each of the next two seasons, $10 million in 2016, $10.5 million in 2017, $11.5 million in 2018 and $12 million in 2019. Praver said Abreu also has the right to opt out of the contract when he becomes arbitration eligible, though he would still be under White Sox control through arbitration. Praver described the negotiations as lengthy and competitive, which lasted two weeks from when teams were asked to submit their initial offers. "Hes A-plus in terms as far as dealing with a person," Praver said. "Very humble, very professional." Abreu, who defected last summer, batted .360 (9 for 25) with three home runs and nine RBIs at the World Baseball Classic last March. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Abreu is expected to play either first base or fill the designated hitter role. "Hes solid on balls in the dirt which is obviously important at first base," general manager Rick Hahn said. "We think he can he can be a solid everyday defensive contributor. Again, the plus-plus tools are the power and the hit tool. But we do view the defence and the throwing as solid/average." Abreu can help bolster a White Sox offence that scored the fewest runs in the American League and hit only 148 home runs, tied for third fewest in the AL, en route to a 63-99 record one year after finishing second in the AL Central. The White Sox envision Abreu hitting in the middle of the lineup, though Hahn didnt give any statistical expectations for Abreus first season, citing an adjustment period to a new country and league. "I just want to see him have the ability to maintain physically where he needs to be and mentally where he needs to be and then let the talent take over," Hahn said. During his 2013 season with Cienfuegos in the top-level league in Cuba, Abreu hit .316 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs in 83 games. White Sox manager Robin Ventura envisions Abreu experiencing similar success to that of fellow Cubans, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig and Oakland Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. "So much has been said about my power and the home runs Ive hit, but more than hitting home runs, my mindset at the plate is whatever my team needs, thats my strategy," Abreu said. The addition of Abreu potentially makes first baseman Paul Konerko the odd-man out with slugger Adam Dunn set to return and owed $15 million in the final year of his contract. Konerko, who is a free agent, is taking time to consider whether he wants to retire or continue playing. Despite coming off a season in which he hit .244 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs, Ventura said the 37-year-old Konerko deserves some time to think about his future. "I cant sit here and say how exactly itd work," Ventura said. "But if theyre on the roster you figure out a way to keep them sharp and playing." Hahn said he spoke to Konerko to inform him the White Sox were interested in Abreu and again to notify him of the signing. Hahn would not rule out Konerko returning but would not comment on specifics. "Hes going through his process and I think hes currently on vacation with his family," Hahn said. "When he gets back well set up a time to get together." Hahn didnt rule out more off-season moves but acknowledged it will be costly to add through free agency. "Its probably more likely that trades are next, but at the same time we havent even hit true domestic free agency yet so its not anything were ruling out until we do our similar due diligence on some of the players that are available there," Hahn said. LaRon Landry .Y. - Henrik Lundqvist wasnt happy going into Game 6 against Montreal. Hakeem Nicks Jersey Indianapolis Colts . -- Connor Brown had two goals and an assist as the Erie Otters edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action.OTTAWA -- Two injuries have derailed most of Kaetlyn Osmonds rookie Olympic season, but she and her coach have managed to find a silver lining. Osmond said shes fully recovered from both a stress reaction in her left ankle, and a torn right hamstring, and is skating in practice better than at any other time in her relatively short career. And when the curtain comes up on the Sochi Olympics next month, Osmond, at least, will be fresh. "I think it will end up being a real advantage for her," her coach Ravi Walia said on the eve of the Canadian figure skating championships. "Some people are exhausted at the end of the season, and I think she wont be. Shes just getting better. This last month of training, shes just gotten so much better. And I really believe that she has a lot more in her this season to keep improving." The 18-year-old from Marystown, N.L., should be a lock for one of Canadas two Olympic berths in womens singles, and is Canadas most promising female skater since the retirement of Joannie Rochette. But a season that held so much promise for the skater who burst onto the international scene when she won Skate Canada in the fall of 2012 has been full of obstacles. She suffered the stress reaction -- a precursor to a stress fracture -- in August, and was off the ice for several weeks. Then finally back on the ice for Skate Canada in late October, she woke up the morning of her long program unable to put much weight on her leg. Tests determined it was a torn hamstring and she withdrew from the remainder of the Grand Prix circuit. "This whole year has been a big learning experience," said Osmond, who trains in Edmonton. Her goal this week is to show "that I can come back from anything." Walia said her recovery from her latest setback has been remarkable, and praised the teenagers positive outlook. "Shes had so many obstacless and so many setbacks, but whats been great is she has a good attitude, and whatever setbacks she had she would do whatever she had to to get back on track," he said. Trent Richardson. "Even if she wasnt at 100 per cent, you could tell the motivation was there." "I was getting worried because of timeline," he added. "But each day she would come (to practice) and do whatever we had to do, and it would be successful each day. She got ready so quick." This seasons short program -- to "Big Spender" from the musical "Sweet Charity" -- was met with some criticism when she debuted it at Skate Canada. There were questions about whether the choice of music was too mature for the teen. She was referred to as "Canadas answer to Miley Cyrus." Both Osmond and Walia shrugged off the negative comments. "She knows her program is appropriate for her, she likes it and its exciting to do, so it didnt bother her at all," Walia said. "It was brought up to be something that it wasnt. Half the skaters out there are skating to music, that maybe where it comes from, might be a story that theyre not portraying. Shes skating to a 60s style dance. "It was a little surprising, it didnt necessarily bother me," he added. Osmond won Skate Canada Challenge -- a qualifying event for nationals that she normally would have skipped -- early last month, and now, with obstacles behind her, is poised to make her Olympic debut. "It just seems like everything is going really fast. Its exciting," said Osmond, who was eighth at last years world championships. "(Making the Olympic team) still hasnt fully crossed my mind, I think its still such a shocker to even think of the possibility, so I dont think it will fully register until I actually make it." Skate Canada will name its team for Sochi on Sunday. cheap jerseys ' ' '
