LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Chicago White Sox agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million deal Wednesday with free-agent first baseman Paul Konerko.

The contract breaks down as follows: $12 million in the first year; $12 million, second year; $6.5 million, third year; seven years deferred at $1 million each.

"We have made no secret of the fact that re-signing Paul Konerko was our top offseason priority," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said in a statement. "Paul's value to the organization on the field and in the clubhouse can never be overstated. He is one of the greatest players in franchise history, and we hope he finishes his career in a White Sox uniform."

Williams said Tuesday that negotiations were at a standstill, prompting him to seriously start considering other options.

But that standstill didn't last long. Movement toward an agreement started after a sushi dinner on Tuesday, Williams said.

"We were very, very close to going a different direction," Williams said. "And I'm sure they were, as well.

"So for it to come together at the end, which a lot of times this is how things get done, is a bit of good fortune on both parts I think, because I think he would have looked awfully funny in another uniform at this point."

Konerko, who will be 35 on Opening Day, is coming off one of his best seasons, batting .312 with 39 home runs and 111 RBIs. He has six 30-homer seasons and has driven in 100-plus runs five times in his 14-year career.

"Definitely to come back was always [top] in my mind of what I wanted to happen going back to this offseason, but [also] years ago," Konerko said. "Having said that though, last offseason, sometime right about now, I began a yearlong preparation for the fact that it might not happen that way."

Konerko, who took less money to return to the White Sox the last time he was a free agent, following their World Series season in 2005, is 35 home runs shy of 400 for his career.