December 17, 200619 yr 12/17/2006 12:19 PM ET White Sox and Toby Hall agree to terms on two-year contract with club option for 2009 CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox and free-agent catcher Toby Hall have agreed to terms on a two-year, $3.65-million contract with a club option for 2009. Under terms of the deal, Hall will receive base salaries of $1.75 million each in 2007 and 2008, while the White Sox hold a 2009 option at $2.25 million with a $150,000 buyout. Hall, 31, split the 2006 season between Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Dodgers, combining to hit .259 (72-278) with 17 doubles, eight home runs and 31 RBIs in 85 games. He batted .231 (51-221) with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 64 games with the Devil Rays last season before being traded to the Dodgers on June 27, where he hit .368 (21-57) with eight RBIs in 21 games. "Toby brings us a veteran presence behind the plate and allows us to keep A.J. Pierzynski rested as the season goes on," said White Sox general manager Ken Williams. "There are a number of left-handed starting pitchers in the division and we feel Toby will enhance our offensive attack against them. "I had a great conversation with Toby to explain how we view his role and he expressed how difficult a decision it was for him. He had chances to go to other clubs that may have offered more playing time, but he chose the White Sox and we are a better team for it. His desire to play on a winning team and in his words, 'Wear a Sox jersey,' ultimately won out." The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Hall is a career .265 (559-2,107) hitter with 116 doubles, 44 home runs and 259 RBIs in 607 games with Tampa Bay (2000-06) and the Dodgers (2006). He posted career highs of 12 home runs in 2003, 60 RBIs in 2004 and a .287 average in 2005, all with the Devil Rays. "Playing against the White Sox in the American League, I was familiar with all that they had accomplished over the past few years and it will be an honor to wear the Sox uniform," said Hall. "Chicago is where I wanted to be." Hall has thrown out 32.3 percent (116-359) of attempted basestealers in his career. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_r...sp&c_id=cws
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