Belle invokes free agency clause
White Sox deny slugger's request for raise
Posted: Friday October 23, 1998 08:46 PM
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If he chooses to file for free agency, Belle's contract allows a 30-day period to test the market Jonathan Daniel/Allsport |
CHICAGO (AP) -- Albert Belle
became eligible for free agency Friday when the White Sox refused his
demand for a $4.25 million raise over three years, then said he wants to
remain in Chicago.
Belle's contract contains a unique provision allowing him to demand the
White Sox keep him one of the three highest-paid players in baseball.
"I've said all along I was happy I'm in Chicago and I would like to stay
in Chicago," Belle told The Associated Press. "I consider this a
starting point. There's nothing to get all bent out of shape about."
"I'm going to leave it up to [agent] Arn Tellem and [owner] Jerry
Reinsdorf to work out a deal," he added. "There are ways to work out things
where both sides are happy."
After one of the best seasons in his career, Belle becomes the top
outfielder available in a class that already includes Bernie
Williams of the New
York Yankees and Henry
Rodriguez of the Chicago Cubs. Belle hit
.328 and hit 49 home runs and 48 doubles. He led the AL in slugging
percentage (.655) and total bases (399), and set club records for homers,
doubles, total bases, extra-base hits (99) and RBIs (152).
He was second in the AL in doubles, homers and RBIs. He won a Silver
Slugger award earlier this week.
"As a player, the first thing that's important is being in a work
environment where you're happy," Belle said. "Over the last year in
Cleveland, I lost that happiness. That's the main reason I left. It didn't
have anything to do with dollars and cents. You can look at this situation,
where the work environment was best for me, and I was able to go out and
put up big numbers."
Belle signed a $55 million, five-year contract with Chicago as a free
agent in November 1996. But his contract allows him to demand a raise if he
drops out of the top three in salary.
He fell into a tie for fourth after Gary
Sheffield received $7.5 million from the Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers to
waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade to the Dodgers in May. Under
the definition of salary in Belle's contract, he is tied for fourth at $10
million with the Cubs' Sammy Sosa,
trailing Boston pitcher Pedro
Martinez ($12,083,333), Atlanta pitcher Greg Maddux
($11.5 million) and Sheffield ($11,416,667).
"Albert enjoyed a tremendous second half and a season that ranks among
the best offensive years in franchise history, but we are not going to
allow anything to disrupt the on-field direction Jerry Manuel has
established for this team," general manager Ron Schueler said in a
statement.
"No one part of this team is larger than the whole -- the Yankees proved
that in this World Series," Schueler continued. "However, we respect
Albert's right to invoke the clause and we welcome him back if he chooses."
Belle has 30 days to test the free agency market, and can either sign
with another team or return to the White Sox. Belle said he and Tellem will
listen to all offers, but staying with Chicago is his first choice.
Besides his good relationship with Manuel, Belle said the White Sox
aren't that far from being a playoff team. He also said he'd be willing to
structure his contract so the White Sox would have the money to go after a
top starting pitcher, their biggest need.
"I've had a chance to experience going to the playoffs. It's an
unbelievable experience and I definitely want to be back in that situation
and we aren't that far away. I don't think a lot of people realize that,"
Belle said.
"We aren't that many players away, and it's just a matter of are you
willing to go the extra mile to get the players?"
While Belle will be in demand, he said there's one team that needn't
bother calling: the Cleveland Indians.
Belle left the Indians in 1996 on bad terms, and his feelings for Cleveland
haven't improved since then.
"Those bridges have been burned. And I'm not in the construction
business," he said. "I'm happy here in Chicago. And I feel confident things
will work out."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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