Thursday, January 17, 2002
Boone to stay with Mariners
Ex-Red gets 3-year deal with option for 2005
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Bret Boone is ready to stay put.
The second baseman agreed to a $25 million, three-year contract Wednesday to remain with the Seattle Mariners.
Boone had been eligible for a one-year contract in salary arbitration, but he decided to sign a multiyear deal instead. He had played with four teams over the last four seasons, including helping Seattle to a record 116 wins in 2001.
“I was sick of renting houses,” Boone said. “When you're on a year-to-year, you don't know where you'll be ... From Day1, Seattle's been the place I wanted to play.”
His deal contains a team option for 2005 that would become guaranteed if he has about 400 plate appearances in the previous year. The contract would be worth $33million over four seasons.
Boone decided to test the market as a free agent after last season. When there were no blockbuster offers from other teams, he was happy to stay where he had his best season.
Boone, 32, finished third in the American League MVP voting last year after setting AL records for second basemen in home runs and RBI. He hit .331 with 36 homers and 141 RBI.
TWINS:
Club president Jerry Bell intends to call Donald Watkins on Friday to set up a meeting that could start the process of selling the team to the Alabama businessman.
Watkins, who met with the head of baseball's ownership committee last week, wants to meet with Twins owner Carl Pohlad and to examine the team's financial records.
In another development, right-hander Joe Mays avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a four-year, $20 million deal.
The signing of Mays is another indication that the Twins are preparing to play this season.
Baseball has chosen to eliminate two teams before 2002, and the Twins are believed to be one of the targets. But players begin reporting to spring training in a month, so time is running out.
METS:
Free agent pitcher Pedro Astacio, shut down late last season because of an injured right shoulder, reached agreement on a one-year deal.
If healthy, Astacio would give the Mets a much-needed righty for their rotation.
Astacio is guaranteed $5million and can make an additional $5million next season in performance bonuses if he pitches 230 innings.
Astacio's contract becomes guaranteed for at least $6 million in 2003 if he pitches 180 innings.
“You never have any assurances,” Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. “There is some level of risk. But we expect him to be healthy.”
Astacio, 32, finished last season at 8-14 with a 5.09 ERA in 26 starts for the Rockies and Astros. He suffered a partial tear in his right shoulder in August.
INDIANS:
Right-hander Jaret Wright, once a rookie sensation, is trying for the second year in a row to come back from shoulder surgery. Wright has begun throwing on the side at the same rate as other Cleveland pitchers and said Wednesday he expects to compete this spring for a spot in the starting rotation.
“I've watched a lot of games on TV the last couple years and I want to be on TV again instead of watching,” Wright said.
After a promising start to his career, the 26-year-old Wright has been on the disabled list six times since July 1999, all because of shoulder problems.
ARBITRATION:
Several players avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to contracts with their respective clubs, including:
• Oakland outfielder Jermaine Dye, who agreed to a three-year, $32 million deal;
• Anaheim outfielder Darin Erstad (one year, $6.25 million);
• St. Louis outfielder J.D. Drew (one-year, $3.1million);
• Detroit right-hander Danny Patterson (three years, $7 million).
• Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli (one year, $650,000);
• Kansas City left-hander Jose Rosado (one year, $3.25 million).
BREWERS:
Free agent second baseman Eric Young signed a $5 million, two-year contract.
Young gets $2 million in each of the next two seasons, and Milwaukee has a $3 million option for 2004 with a $1 million buyout.
Young batted .279 with six home runs, 42 RBI and 31 stolen bases last season for the Chicago Cubs. He is ranked ninth among active players with 377 career steals.
ROCKIES:
Free agent John Valentin endured an hour of fielding drills to see if he can fill the vacancy left when third baseman Jeff Cirillo was traded to the Seattle Mariners.
General manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Buddy Bell supervised the workout at the Denver Broncos' indoor training facility. Neither would comment.
Valentin, 34, played only 30 games the past two seasons because of knee and heel injuries. He has been with the Boston Red Sox since breaking into the majors in 1992.
“I was here to display that I am healthy and things are going well. It has been two years for me, but I am finally healthy,” he said.
“I want to play every day. I would like to play 140 games, and the way I feel right now, I think I can,” Valentin said.
Valentin already has had workouts with Baltimore and Pittsburgh and may have others before signing a contract.
GIANTS:
Catcher Scott Servais signed a minor-league contract. The 12-year veteran returns to the Giants for the third time. He played with San Francisco in 1999 and 2000.
CUBS:
Right-hander Alan Benes agreed to a minor-league contract and will go to spring training with the team as a non-roster invitee.
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Boone to stay with Mariners
