CHICAGO - Free agent catcher Alex Avila and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.

Avila is a .242 hitter with 66 homers and 282 RBIs during seven big league seasons, all with the Detroit Tigers, and has thrown out 24.5 per cent of attempted base stealers. The 29-year-old was limited to 67 games with Detroit last season because of injuries, including a left knee bone bruise.

Avila was an All-Star in 2011 when he set career highs with a .295 average, 19 homers and 82 RBIs.

He joins a White Sox team that finished fourth in the AL Central with 86 losses last season. Catcher Tyler Flowers batted .239 with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 112 games.