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Shortstop windfall Vizquel close to signing extension with Indians
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Perennial Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel, who has grumbled in the past about being underpaid compared to other shortstops, said he is close to signing a contract extension with the Cleveland Indians. "The deal is almost done," he said Saturday after finishing his first spring training workout. "I think in the next week or two something will get done. I'm real happy about it." The Indians held their first full squad workout Thursday. Vizquel didn't arrive in camp until Friday and didn't work out until Saturday. He said being late had nothing to do with his contract. "I was getting some electrical work done on my house [in Seattle] and I wanted to get it done before I came here," he said. Vizquel, who has won eight consecutive Gold Gloves, is signed through the 2002 season at $3 million a year. The salaries of other shortstops have skyrocketed since Vizquel signed his contract in 1995. During the offseason, Alex Rodriguez signed a $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers and Derek Jeter signed a $189 million deal to stay with the New York Yankees. Both are for 10 years. "My contract looks like a minor league deal compared to those," Vizquel said. "It's not like I'm making 3 cents. I get a good check, but it looks small compared to the others." Lesser shortstops, such as Alex Gonzalez ($19 million for four years with Toronto), Mike Bordick ($9.5 million for two years with Baltimore) and Deivi Cruz ($3.525 million for this season with Detroit) even make more money than Vizquel. "It's not like it bothered me, but I'd like to have a fair contract," Vizquel said. Vizquel, who will turn 33 in April, hopes the extension will carry him near the end of his career. "I'll be 35 at the end of this contract and two or three more years will put me at 38," he said. "Then I'll be ready to either be a utility guy or move to second base." Vizquel said Indians general manager John Hart first talked to him about the extension a year ago. The talks between Hart and Vizquel's agent, Adam Katz, got serious in December. Hart said earlier in the week he was talking with Vizquel and Katz, but would not elaborate. Vizquel made three errors in 648 total chances in 2000 for a .995 fielding percentage, the second highest total of all time. The switch-hitter has batted .280 or better in each of the past five seasons.
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