Alex Avila is leaving town, but he isn’t traveling far.
The longtime Detroit Tigers catcher this morning signed a one-year deal with the division-rival Chicago White Sox. The deal, according to the Sox, is worth $2.5 million.
Avila, 28, is the oldest son of Tigers general manager Al Avila. He spent seven seasons with the Tigers, hitting .242 with 66 home runs.
He served as the starting catcher for the better part of six seasons, until losing his job this season to rookie catcher James McCann.
Avila’s career year came in 2011, when he was an All-Star and won the American League Silver Slugger at catcher, hitting .