Jose Abreu isn’t leaving the Chicago White Sox – at least for now.

The White Sox and the first baseman have agreed to a one-year, $10.825 million contract, avoiding arbitration and keeping the 29-year-old in Chicago for the start of the team’s rebuild.

Abreu struggled at the beginning of the 2016 season but bounced back to finish with a .293 batting average, 25 home runs and 100 RBI. He also had 32 doubles, making him the first player in franchise history to have three straight seasons of at least 25 home runs, 100 RBI and 30 doubles.

He also became just the seventh player in baseball history with at least 100 RBI in each of his first three years. He was named American League Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in 2014.

The White Sox signed Abreu in October 2013 out of Cuba for six years and $68 million, including a $10 million signing bonus. He opted out of that contract after the 2016 season and became arbitration eligible.

MARLINS: Two people familiar with the deal said right-hander Brad Ziegler has agreed to a $16 million, two-year contract with Miami, which added its second former Red Sox reliever.

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The agreement came shortly after right-hander Junichi Tazawa finalized his $12 million, two-year contract with the Marlins.

Miami is hoping a deep bullpen will give Manager Don Mattingly lots of options to help compensate for a rotation weakened by the loss of ace Jose Fernandez, killed in a boating accident in September.

“I’m very excited with how our bullpen looks,” said president of baseball operations Michael Hill, speaking before the Ziegler deal was confirmed. “We wanted to create as much depth and talent and versatility as we could, and give Donnie as many options as possible to potentially shorten the game.”

Ziegler is a nine-year veteran with a career ERA of 2.44 and 85 saves. He has pitched for three teams, including Arizona and Boston in 2016.

Tazawa’s acquisition came with an endorsement from Ichiro Suzuki, the Marlins’ outfielder and 3,000-hit club member. What was Suzuki’s scouting report on Tazawa, a fellow native of Japan?

“That he’s a very good pitcher and can help us,” Hill said. “He signed off, and that was good to know.”

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Tazawa had been with the Red Sox since his rookie year in 2009 and has a career ERA of 3.58. Miami swung the deals for both pitchers after falling short in its pursuit of high-priced closers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen.

“We know there’s competition for players,” Hill said. “You have a Plan A, but you have a Plan B, C and D to accomplish your goal.”

Ziegler is expected to compete with incumbent A.J. Ramos for the closer’s job. Tazawa should help compensate for the loss of left-hander Mike Dunn to Colorado in free agency.

The Marlins have also acquired starting pitchers Edinson Volquez and Jeff Locke this offseason.


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