Adam Dunn Signs Four-Year Contract With White Sox Worth $56 Million

Early Thursday afternoon, we heard that the White Sox were suddenly interested in signing free agent Adam Dunn. Later Thursday afternoon, we heard that the White Sox were closing in. Now, it seems that a deal is all but done, and that Dunn will take his powerful bat to the American League.

Jon Heyman states that a contract agreement is essentially finalized. Ken Rosenthal confirms Heyman’s tweet. And both Peter Gammons and the Los Angeles Times report that the contract will be for four years and $56 million. All that’s left is a phsical, scheduled for Friday.

It’s not quite the four years and $60 million that Dunn and his agent were after, but it’s mighty close, and so they have to be happy. With Chicago, Dunn could serve as either a first baseman or designated hitter, depending on what happens with free agent Paul Konerko, who the White Sox would like to keep.

Dunn - who has hit at least 38 home runs for seven consecutive years - will move to the AL for the first time in his career, and will play in a small, hitter-friendly ballpark to boot. The Nationals, meanwhile, will gain two compensation picks for losing the Type A free agent. They’ll get the White Sox’s first rounder, and they’ll also gain a supplemental pick in between the first and second rounds. They’re expected to consider free agents Carlos Pena and Adam LaRoche as Dunn replacements.

Be sure to read more on Dunn and the signing over at South Side Sox.