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Signing on Roundup: Abreu, Hermanson sign three-year deals
Posted: Wednesday January 19, 2000 02:06 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter asked for an arbitration-record $10.5 million salary Tuesday and New York closer Mariano Rivera was close behind, requesting $9.25 million. But Jeter's case is not expected to ever see a hearing room. The All-Star shortstop, according to a pair of sources familiar with the talks, is close to an agreement on a record-setting deal: a seven-year contract worth about $118 million. On one of the busiest days of the offseason, 27 players in arbitration agreed to contracts, including an $18 million, four-year deal for Los Angeles infielder Mark Grudzielanek, a $15 million, three-year contract for Montreal pitcher Dustin Hermanson and a $14.25 million, three-year deal for Philadelphia outfielder Bobby Abreu. Fifty-two players wound up exchanging arbitration figures with their teams, and one of them, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, immediately settled on a $1.25 million, one-year deal. For players who don't reach agreements, hearing before three-person panels will be scheduled for the first three weeks of February. Last year, Jeter won $5 million in arbitration last winter, and Rivera $4.25 got million. His request tops the previous record, set when teammate Bernie Williams asked for $9 million in 1998. The Yankees offered Williams $7.5 million two years, the highest figure submitted by a team before Tuesday, and settled at $8.25 million. After the season, they agreed on an $87.5 million, seven-year deal, the highest on the team until now. Jeter's deal would surpass the $105 million, seven-year contract Kevin Brown agreed to with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Dec. 12, 1998. Rivera won at $4.25 million last year, then had a major league-leading 45 saves and was voted MVP of the World Series. The Yankees countered him at $7.25 million, meaning a second straight arbitration hearing is a possibility. Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, eligible for free agency after next season, asked for a raise from $5.95 million to $8.45 million after going 14-11 with a 4.70 ERA. The Yankees, who offered $6.5 million, were close to agreement on a $25.5 million, three-year contract. A pair of players traded during the offseason also asked for large salaries. Boston outfielder Carl Everett, acquired from Houston, asked for a raise from $2.5 million to $6 million, and the team countered at $4.4 million. Chicago Cubs pitcher Ismael Valdes, acquired from Los Angeles, asked for a raise from $4,275,000 to $6.2 million. The Cubs countered at $5,275,000. New York Mets closer Armando Benitez asked for $4.9 million, more than double his $2,037,500 salary last season. He was offered $3.25 million. Baltimore catcher Charles Johnson, who lost in arbitration last year after winning in 1998, asked for a raise from $3.6 million to $5.1 million, with the Orioles offering $4.6 million. Three players agreed to two-year contracts: Cincinnati outfielder Michael Tucker ($3.5 million), Tampa Bay catcher Mike DiFelice ($1.3 million) and Toronto catcher Alberto Castillo ($1.15 million). Los Angeles settled with all six of its players in arbitration. In addition to Grudzielanek, the Dodgers agreed to one-year contracts with right-handers Chan Ho Park ($3.85 million), Terry Adams ($1.4 million) and Dan Naulty ($300,000), third baseman Kevin Orie ($600,000) and outfielder Trenidad Hubbard ($300,000). In a strange move, the Dodgers then attempted to send Hubbard to the minors outright and he refused, becoming a free agent. St. Louis agreed to one-year deals with three pitchers: right-handers Kent Bottenfield ($4 million) and Alan Benes ($550,000) and left-hander Mike Mohler ($690,000). Also agreeing to one-year contracts were Chicago White Sox right-hander James Baldwin ($3.3 million), Atlanta second baseman Quilvio Veras ($3 million), Cincinnati second baseman Pokey Reese ($1.95 million), Kansas City right-hander Jeff Suppan ($1.45 million), Phillies right-hander Robert Person ($1.4 million), Cleveland right-hander Steve Karsay ($1.2 million), Milwaukee right-hander Jamey Wright ($1,025,000), Cubs right-hander Matt Karchner ($776,000), Brewers left-hander Bill Pulsipher ($575,000), Anaheim outfielder Orlando Palmeiro ($550,000) and Detroit right-hander Danny Patterson ($550,000).
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