Abreu wants to finish career with White Sox

Jose Abreu is loving his life on the South Side.

On the eve of his third professional season, the Chicago White Sox first baseman expressed his desire to remain with the only major-league team he's ever played for.

"I want spend my whole career with the White Sox organization because they were the ones who gave me the opportunity to play here," the Cuban slugger told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. "And they have done a lot for me. I love to be here."

Abreu has lived up to the hype since defecting from Cuba and signing a six-year, $68-million deal with the team in 2013. Over his first two seasons, the 29-year-old has slashed .303/.364/.540, slugged 66 home runs, and earned both a Silver Slugger award and Rookie of the Year honors in 2013.

General manager Rick Hahn said it was "great to hear" of Abreu's desires to remain with the team, and then lauded what his slugger's brought to the White Sox both on and off the field.

"I have to say he has, if not exceeded expectations, he has certainly met the highest expectations anyone could have had for him," Hahn said.

"That was the type of player we thought we were getting, but until you have him on a day in, day out basis, you aren’t sure and you don't truly appreciate it until you see it every day."

Abreu, who's set to make $10 million this year, remains under contract to the White Sox through 2019.