Tuesday, December 14, 1999Ex-Red Vaughn signs with Devil Rays
The Associated PressANAHEIM, Calif. — Tropicana Field might be home-run heaven next season.
Hours after trading for Vinny Castilla, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays gave out the biggest contract to any free agent this offseason, agreeing Monday to a $34 million, four-year deal with former Reds left fielder Greg Vaughn.
“They want to win. They want to win now. They don't want to wait,” Vaughn said. “You couldn't ask for a better situation.”
A year after hitting 50 homers for the San Diego Padres, Vaughn hit 45 more for the Reds last season, batting .245 with 118 RBI.
“We said we were going to get better every year,” Tampa Bay General Manager Chuck LaMar said. “The first year, we won 63 games. Last year, we won 69 and would have won 70 to 75 if not for the injuries. We need to take the next step up. We're not too many pieces away from having a very good baseball team.”
Vaughn, a 34-year-old outfielder, had been seeking a deal averaging $10 million a year or more.
“The most important thing to me is winning,” Vaughn said, “and they made their commitment. That's what made my decision pretty easy.”
Vaughn joins a lineup that will have Jose Canseco (34 homers in 113 games last season), Fred McGriff (32 homers) and Castilla (33 homers, playing his home games at Coors Field).
“You go Canseco, McGriff, Vaughn, Castilla, in whatever order from 3-to-6,” LaMar said. “If you look at the averages, the hits, the RBIs, the homers, it's comparable to anyone in baseball.”
Vaughn, Castilla, Canseco and McGriff hit 144 homers last season — one fewer than Tampa Bay's total, which was next to last in the American League, ahead of only Minnesota (105).
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