White Sox sign David Robertson to 4-year, $46 million deal: Report

Late Monday night at the Winter Meetings, the White Sox and David Robertson agreed to a four-year deal worth $46 million that the Yankees refused to match. The signing fills in a big need for Chicago while creating a giant hole in the Yankees’ bullpen.

While Robertson didn’t get the $52 million contract he was seeking, the right-hander got enough to leave the Yankees, the only organization he has ever worked for since being drafted in 2006.

In the 29-year-old Robertson, the Sox get a high-strikeout reliever their bullpen desperately needs. Their relievers combined to strike out 7.2 batters per nine innings and 18.2 percent of batters faced this past season, which is abysmal. The average MLB bullpen had an 8.5 K/9 and 22.2 K percentage in 2014.

For the Yankees, Robertson’s departure leaves them without an experienced closer after Robertson converted 39-of-44 save chances replacing legendary Mariano Rivera in his first season as a closer last season.

Robertson gets $46M for 4 yrs. Bob nightengale 1st with chisox
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 9, 2014

The White Sox also boosted their rotation by trading for Jeff Samardzija from the A's, but getting Robertson as their closer definitely fills in a bigger need for the team.

And as for the Yankees, they basically switched Robertson for Andrew Miller — who signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Bombers on Friday — ultimately saving the organization $10 million in the process.

But it now leaves them with Miller and Dellin Betances, who was an All-Star in his rookie season, to replace Robertson. And neither player really has any big league closing experience.

How the Yankees spend that extra $10 million could justify their decision to let Robertson go.