Chicago.WhiteSox.MLB.com

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

Kelly Wunsch will pitch out of the bullpen for the White Sox. (Phelan H. Ebenhack/AP)

The White Sox announced late Friday that Wunsch signed a one-year contract worth $800,000, while Lee parlayed the best season of his young career into a two-year deal worth $15 million, after earning $4.2 million in 2003. Lee will be paid $6.5 million in 2004 and $8 million in 2005, with the White Sox carrying a club option at $8.5 million in 2006, or they can buy out the contract for $500,000.

If a new contract wasn't agreed upon with Lee, the team figured to offer arbitration for a 27-year-old who hit .291 with career-highs in home runs (31), hits (181), doubles (35), stolen bases (18), total bases (311), extra-base hits (67) and RBIs (113). Lee led the team in RBIs and stolen bases and ranked second in home runs.

In 727 games since making his debut in 1999, Lee carries a .284 average with 121 home runs and 453 RBIs. Lee would have been eligible for arbitration each of the next two years and eligible for free agency after the 2005 season.

Wunsch, Lee and left-handed hurler Scott Schoeneweis were the three White Sox players eligible for arbitration by Saturday's 11 p.m. non-tender deadline. The situation was a bit more tenuous for Wunsch and Schoeneweis, who was not offered arbitration and probably won't be back with the White Sox at a lower salary.

Acquired from Anaheim in a July 29 trade for Gary Glover and two minor-leaguers, the 30-year-old Schoeneweis was informed early on that he would have the opportunity to compete for a starting job this upcoming season. With the loss of Bartolo Colon to free agency, the veteran Schoeneweis figured to be part of the White Sox pitching plans in the immediate future.

But Schoeneweis earned $1.425 million in 2003 and figured to make $2 million through arbitration. The White Sox could put that money toward signing a free agent pitcher off the open market. They also possess seven or eight strong minor-league candidates to fill the back end of the starting rotation behind Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza and Jon Garland.

Schoeneweis, who was 2-1 with a 4.50 earned run average and 27 strikeouts in 26 innings during 20 relief appearances with the White Sox, becomes the fourth pitcher to leave the team during the current offseason.

As of Thursday night, Wunsch was close to reaching an agreement on a one-year deal. But after toiling six seasons in the minor leagues prior to emerging with the White Sox out of Spring Training in the playoff season of 2000, Wunsch has become a realist.

If he didn't sign a pre-tender before Saturday's deadline, Wunsch probably wouldn't have been offered arbitration.

"They can't pay me what I would make through arbitration for the position I'm slotted to them," Wunsch said of his situation.

Even after a strong 2003 campaign, battling back from a torn labrum in his left shoulder suffered in 2001 that slowed his development in 2002, Wunsch wasn't sure the White Sox would be interested in retaining him. He needed to pitch his way on to the roster last Spring Training with a perfect effort in Arizona, and the farm system has David Sanders and Arnaldo Munoz waiting in the wings to replace Wunsch as the left-handed specialist.

Wunsch was waiting to see if the team's contractual offer was commensurate with his 2.75 ERA in 43 games and 17 hits allowed and 33 strikeouts in 36 innings. He led American League relievers in opponents' average (.139), slugging percentage (.169) and hits per nine innings (4.25), while allowing one home run to a left-handed hitter in each of the last four seasons.

When the White Sox made a solid bid, Wunsch quickly realized that his efforts were valued as a big part of a currently depleted bullpen.

"I didn't get that much work last year, and obviously, I was a little unsure as to what their plans were for me during this upcoming season," said Wunsch, who earned $575,000 last season. "I don't want to be an afterthought, and I felt like that last season.

"If they had come in and sort of low-balled us on an offer, they would have sent me a signal that they didn't want me back," Wunsch added. "It was a matter of getting the details agreed on. With a contract my size, there are not a whole lot of details."

With relievers Tom Gordon and Scott Sullivan also having traveled the free agent route, Wunsch's role could be greatly increased. It especially would be true if Damaso Marte, the left-handed set-up man, assumes the closer's role in the case of Billy Koch's continued ineffectiveness or a trade involving the team's current closer.

But Wunsch isn't solely about facing left-handers, despite his funky sidearming motion lending him to that role. Wunsch held left-handed hitters to a .127 average (8-for-63) last year, while righties didn't fair much better at .153. Wunsch is 10-5 with one save and a 3.69 ERA in four seasons with the White Sox, which includes 83 appearances during his rookie year in 2000.

Saturday's non-tender date is equally as important to the White Sox as a team as it was to Lee, Wunsch and Schoeneweis. With six free agents already gone and the seventh, catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., back with the team on a one-year deal, the White Sox will probably focus on bringing aboard a few valuable pieces to the team's puzzle through non-tender free agents.

There were 46 in the pool last season. That number figures to rise by Sunday, possibly explaining the lack of major moves at this past weekend's Winter Meetings in New Orleans.

"You can pick up some quality guys when they start flooding the market," Wunsch said of the non-tender free agents.

"That's a definite option we have to look at, but I'm sure we will be one of many teams looking at it," added White Sox general manager Kenny Williams of the non-tender date. "But if something presented itself and made sense, I wasn't waiting until Dec. 20."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.