White Sox unveil Samardzija, Robertson and Cabrera

JeffSamardzija

With city rivals the Chicago Cubs securing the services of Jon Lester and announcing their intentions to snap a 100-year-plus World Series drought, the White Sox reminded the MLB world there are two teams in the Illinois capital.

The two ballclubs finished with identical win-loss ratios in the 2014 season - 73-89 - with the Cubs going five consecutive seasons with losing records.

The White Sox made it back-to-back losing seasons, and have been out of the play-offs since 2008.

The same post-season was the final time the Cubs were playing in October, and after identical 2014 records, they have matched one another in the recruiting stakes in December.

And White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said they were eyeing more than just a post-season appearance in the coming 10 months.

"Quite frankly, any one of these three individuals being here by themselves or announcing their acquisition for the club would've been huge news for us," Hahn said. 

"It would've merited a gathering like this and a celebration like the one we're having today.

"The fact that we're able to have all three of these players here means not only a great deal to us. 

"It also speaks volumes to them willing to be here as teammates and sharing a goal of achieving a world championship in 2015."

Cabrera was the surprise acquisition by the White Sox, the former Toronto Blue Jays switch-hitter costing the franchise $42million over three years - and seeing them fend off interest from a number of clubs.

If Cabrera fulfils his three years in Chicago, it will be his longest stint at one franchise since he played with the New York Yankees from 2005-09 - as he followed that with time at the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and Toronto.

Pitcher Samardzija spent several seasons with the Cubs, before a stint at the Oakland Athletics in the back half of 2014 - as he finished the 2014 season with a collective 7-13 win-loss record.

Right-handed closer Robertson comes across from the Yankees, bringing a 25-19 career record in the MLB with him - going 4-5 in the past season.

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