The White Sox exercised their 2010 option on pitcher Freddy Garcia, according to SI's Jon Heyman. The option has a $1MM base salary plus $2MM in possible incentives.
Garcia, 33, signed a minor league deal with the Mets in January. That contract had up to $6.5MM in performance bonuses, but Garcia struggled in Spring Training and the minors for the club. When the Mets released him in late April, some thought he might have to hang it up. He returned to the White Sox on a minor league deal in June, and was solid in the majority of his nine big league starts. It looks like Garcia is finally back from August '07 shoulder surgery.
Chicago's 2009 rotation may already be settled, with Mark Buehrle, Jake Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and Garcia. Everyone is under contract except for Danks, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time.