An Offerman they can't refuse
Red Sox sign infielder to 4-year, $26 million deal
Posted: Friday November 13, 1998 06:37 PM
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Offerman hit .303 in 1996 and .297 the following year with Kansas City AP |
BOSTON (AP) -- Boston couldn't get a deal done to keep Mo Vaughn, its top
hitter and team leader. The Red Sox had no problem completing a $26
million, four-year contract with Jose Offerman,
who's not even sure where he will play.
"I'm ready to play anywhere they want me," Offerman said after the deal
was announced Friday.
Offerman, who turned 30 last Sunday, is likely to bat leadoff and see
time at first base, second base and designated hitter. He led Kansas City
with a .315 average and .403 on-base percentage this year, stealing 45
bases, hitting seven homers and driving in 66 runs. Offerman led the major
leagues with 13 triples.
"Jose is one of the best offensive players in the major leagues," Red Sox
general manager Dan Duquette said in a statement. "He is a premier leadoff
man who has had an outstanding on-base percentage throughout his career."
Duquette wasn't available for comment and was said to have traveled
Thursday to Tucson, Arizona, trying to convince Albert Belle to
sign with the Red Sox.
The surly outfielder, who has until December 2 to decide whether to keep
or jettison his $10 million-a-year contract with the Chicago White Sox,
would provide the offensive pop Boston lost when it broke off talks with
Vaughn on Wednesday.
Offerman, who like Vaughn is represented by Tom Reich and Adam Katz,
broke into the major leagues with Los Angeles in 1990 and spent six seasons
with the Dodgers, developing a reputation as a shortstop with a wild arm.
At Kansas City, he put in three solid seasons (he hit .303 in 1996 and
.297 the following year) and moved to second base, where he made 19 errors
in 152 games last season.
Offerman, paid $2 million this season, gets a $1 million signing bonus,
$4.5 million next year, $5.5 million in 2000 and $6.5 million in each of
the following two seasons. Boston has an $8 million option for 2003 with a
$2 million buyout.
Earlier this week, Offerman was close to agreeing to a contract with
Cleveland, but Indians general manager John Hart also was pursuing Roberto
Alomar to play second base.
"I'm real happy going to play in Boston," Offerman said. "It's hard for
me to say what position I'm going to play."
Boston noted that Offerman hit .338 (27-for-80) with a .454 on-base
percentage from the seventh inning on when the Royals were leading by one
run, were tied or the tying run was at base, on base or on deck. He hit
.352 with a .450 on-base percentage when he batted with runners in scoring
position.
"He is an excellent clutch hitter," Duquette said.
Boston also thinks he may be able to play the outfield, but he has made
just two outfield appearances in his major league career.
"I can get used to it," Offerman said. "In batting practice, I go to the
outfield and try to catch some fly balls."
Offerman's family, from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic,
was not injured by Hurricane Georges. Offerman, who lives in Toluca Lake,
California, said he intends to go back to the Dominican Republic in several
weeks.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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