Scott Downs likes the direction the Chicago White Sox are taking and wants to contribute to their youth movement on the mound and as a mentor.

Downs signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the White Sox that includes a club option for 2015.

"The talks that I had about rebuilding, about going young, about needing some extra veteran leadership in the clubhouse and on the field -- it all appealed to me," Downs said. "I want to win and be a part of something special and I think we have that here."