White Sox sign shortstop Tim Anderson to six-year, $25 million contract

The Chicago White Sox, deciding that shortstop Tim Anderson is the cornerstone of their future, signed him to an unprecedented six-year, $25 million contract extension Tuesday that potentially could keep him in Chicago until 2024.

The deal is the most lucrative contract given to a position player with less than one year’s service in baseball history. The previous record deal given to a position player that wasn’t eligible for arbitration before his third full season was Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria’s $17.5 million deal, signed just weeks after his major league debut in 2008.

The White Sox also have two club options on Anderson that would pay him $12.5 million in 2023 and $14 million in 2024. It would make the contract worth $50.5 million if they exercise the two years, including a $1 million buyout.

And that would delay Anderson's free agency by two seasons, the tradeoff for receiving more guaranteed cash up front.

The deal calls for Anderson to receive $850,000 in 2017, $1 million in 2018, and $1.4 million in 2019, $4 million in 2020, $7.25 million in 2021 and $9.5 million in 2022.

“I was kind of surprised when I heard the news,’’ Anderson said at a news conference at White Sox camp. "but I was more so excited just to be able to tell my mom that.

“To see the smile on her face was just priceless.’’

The deal also signifies the White Sox’s faith in Anderson, 23, who batted .283 last season with 37 extra-base hits and 10 stolen bases.

“There was considerable amount of internal discussion about the length of the contract and its potential impact,’’ said Terry Jones, vice president of baseball operations for Reynolds Sports Management. “But the more we looked at it, the more comfortable we became. Most important, it was what Tim wanted, so once that became clear, the decision was easy.’’