The Major League Baseball's (MLB) Chicago White Sox have strengthened their left field by signing free agent Melky Cabrera to a three-year deal, according to multiple media reports.

The Chicago sports talk station WSCR 670-AM first reported the news on the agreement.

While Cabrera was rumoured to be garnering significant interest from the Seattle Mariners, he instead becomes another part of the general manager Rick Hahn's impressive string of offseason acquisitions.

Like Us on Facebook

This past season, the 30-year old player batted .301 with 81 runs scored in 139 games for the Toronto Blue Jays. In addition, he hit 16 home runs with 73 RBIs.

Since the news broke, the White Sox have not confirmed the signing late Saturday night, four days after a trade for pitcherJeff Samardzija was made official and three days after the signing of reliever David Robertson was announced.

However, White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton menitioned Cabrera in a welcome message on Twitter that same night. Cabrera retweeted the message as well.

Multiple media reports suggested that the contract, which was pending a physical, would be in the range of US $42 to $45 million.

Hahn has indicated after the Robertson signing that money was tight for the team. The Cabrera signing though would contradict that stance.

The White Sox do not seem to be in such a financial predicament, as they came into the offseason with money to spend over big contracts such as those for Jake Peavy, Alex Rios, Paul Konerko, and Adam Dunn.

All these players have come of the books in the past two years.

The White Sox's biggest need was relief help, a right-handed starter, and a left fielder as they head into the winter meetings on Monday.

Cabrera is a switch-hitter. He has a career .286 average with a .339 on-base percentage over 10 seasons.

He was an All-Star in 2012 with the San Francisco Giants, but ended the year earlier when he was suspended after a positive test for elevated testosterone levels. 

Tagsmlb, Chicago White Sox, Melky Cabrera