Hypothetically Speaking: The John Danks Contract Extension

The White Sox tried to sign John Danks to a contract extension last year, but Danks wisely held off. Now Danks is looking for a long term deal and has put himself in a great position to land a significant contract should the White Sox try to extend Danks:

"It would be nice to have the security," said Danks, who has that security, even if he doesn't officially possess it in writing. "I'm very excited to sign a multi-year deal."

That excitement level for Danks doesn't quite carry over to signing any deal put in front of him by the White Sox. After presenting these same basic long-term contract thoughts during the offseason leading into 2009, Danks and Gavin Floyd, a pair of young rotation cornerstones, were offered four-year, $15.5 million extensions last March, with a $9.5 million option for 2013.

Floyd accepted the deal, but despite Danks' high level of loyalty to the franchise, he turned it down, with advice from Jeff Berry, his representative. Some eight months later and with a second straight season of starting success behind him, Danks looks back at this decision without regret but also looks forward to another multi-year opportunity.

"We are not talking yet," said Danks, when asked about renewed contract discussions with the team. "But [general manager] Kenny [Williams] and [assistant general manager] Rick [Hahn] are probably looking at the World Series to finish up and then go from there with this team.

So with that in mind, let's take a look at the goals each side should have moving forward:

The White Sox

1. Buyout arbitration years

2. If possible, buy out Danks first year of free agency and maybe even his second

The John Danks Camp

1. Guaranteed money

2. Try to keep the contract to 3 or 4 years so that Danks will hit free agency after 2012 or 2013

So how about this deal for Danks and the White Sox?

(4 years/$24 million) with a $12 million dollar option for 2014

Here is the contractual breakdown:

2010: $2 million
2011: $5 million
2012: $7 million
2013: $10 million
2014: $11 million (team option)

Why it works for the White Sox:

1. Buyout all of Danks's arbitration years

2. Buyout one (maybe 2) year of free agency

3. Very reasonable price

Why it works for Danks:

1. Long term security

2. Ability to become free agent after 2013 (age 28) or 2014 (age 29)

Danks can probably earn more through arbitration on a year to year basis, but this much guaranteed money would be very difficult to turn down.

Thoughts?

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