White Sox Sign First Baseman Paul Konerko to Three-Year Contract

Free-agent first basemen have been hot topic at the 2010 winter meetings, and although the Chicago White Sox nearly lost their man, the team retained its star slugger, Paul Konerko.

Konerko agreed Wednesday to a three-year, $37.5 million contract on Wednesday. He's set to earn $12 million in the first two seasons, with $13.5 million to be paid out until 2020, including $6.5 million in 2013.

The 34-year-old first baseman had one of the best years of his career in 2010, hitting .312 with 39 home runs and 111 RBIs, finishing fifth in AL MVP voting. Konerko will have additional lineup help this season, as the White Sox also signed Adam Dunn.

Konerko declined arbitration offered by the White Sox earlier this offseason, and negotiations reportedly came to a standstill Tuesday, but the deal eventually went through.