The Palmer Method
Tigers sign slugging third baseman to $35 million deal
Posted: Wednesday November 11, 1998 08:34 PM
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Palmer hit 34 homers last season for the Royals, but was third in the AL in errors by a third baseman Otto Gruele/Allsport |
DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers, seeking
to build a contender as they prepare to move into a new stadium in 2000,
signed Dean
Palmer to a $36 million, five-year contract on Wednesday.
Tigers general manager Randy Smith said the signing should send a message
to fans and to other teams that the Tigers, who have posted five straight
losing seasons for the first time in their history, are ready to compete
again.
"We identified three needs after the season that needed to be addressed;
we needed a run-producing bat, a veteran catcher and pitching," Smith said.
"We've answered one of those needs, and we're not packing up now and
heading home."
He said signing Palmer, Detroit's first major free agent addition in
years, would make it easier for the Tigers to sign a pitcher and mentioned
Todd
Stottlemyre as a possibility.
"For someone like Stottlemyre to show us consideration, we have to show
we're serious," he said.
He said the signing of Palmer, coupled with the new stadium, will make
Detroit more attractive to free agents.
"You look at the Cleveland situation before their new ballpark, it wasn't
a place that was on the top of most ballplayers' list to play. But now it
is," he said. "I think that will happen for us."
Palmer said it made a difference for him.
"I liked the idea of being with the team moving into a new stadium," he
said.
Palmer, who turns 30 next month, hit .278 this year for Kansas City,
leading the Royals in both homers (34) and RBIs (119). He was acquired by
Kansas City from Texas on July 25, 1997, for Tom Goodwin.
Palmer said he signed with Detroit over Tampa Bay because "it felt like
the right fit for me."
"I looked at the talent they have on the field and there's some great
talent. With a couple more additions, they will be ready go contend,"
Palmer said.
Palmer added that Smith indicated that the Tigers are ready to make those
additions.
The signing fit in with the plan the Tigers began three years ago to go
with young players to begin building a nucleus. Smith said the nucleus is
in place and it's time to fill holes.
The Tigers were last in the AL Central this season at 65-97, 24 games
behind first-place Cleveland.
Palmer, who made $5.75 million this season, turned down a $4.75 million
player option and became a free agent following the World Series.
The Tigers are giving him a $10 million signing bonus that is payable
over five years, $3 million in 1999, $5 million in 2000, $5.5 million in
2001, $6 million in 2002 and $6.5 million in 2003.
Smith said that when the Tigers heard that Tampa had made a similar
offer, the Tigers agreed to guarantee the fifth year. The contract also
includes a no-trade clause for three years.
Smith said the deal came together partly because Palmer was willing to
take less the first season, before the new stadium opens.
Palmer said he was impressed by the fact the Tigers made an offer one
minute after midnight Friday.
Detroit also made an offer to Ken Caminiti,
another free-agent third baseman, but Smith said he told the Tigers he
wasn't ready to make a quick decision so they turned their attention toward
Palmer.
He conceded that Palmer isn't as big a name, but said he wasn't worried
about that.
"If the club produces and the club wins games, then there will be fan
interest," he said.
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