Chicago ? Frank Thomas will stay in Chicago after all, agreeing with the White Sox on a one-year contract with three mutual options Friday.

Thomas had tested the free-agent market for the first time in his career after the White Sox invoked a contract clause that allowed them to defer most of his $10 million salary.

But with the market tighter than in recent years and the luxury tax looming, there was little interest in the two-time MVP.

“We have never lost sight of what Frank Thomas has meant to this organization over the past 13 seasons and are pleased to have reached this agreement,” White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said. “He is the greatest offensive player in the history of this franchise, and his career certainly is of Hall of Fame caliber.”

Thomas signed a contract in 1997 that was to pay him $9,927,000 in each of the next four seasons.