Indians Keep Spending Millions
The Cleveland Indians spent another $6.75 million Friday, agreeing to a two-year contract with Charles Nagy.
Jaime Navarro, meanwhile, decided to stay with the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to an unusual contract that is worth $3.4 million for one year but could be worth $7.3 million for two years or $10.6 million for three years.
Outfielder Stan Javier moved across the San Francisco Bay, agreeing to a $2.1 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. Javier can make $250,000 more each season if he plays in 140 games.
Catcher Greg Myers left California and signed with the Minnesota Twins, agreeing to a $475,000, one-year deal with a club option for 1997 at $550,000.
Milwaukee, which acquired Chuck Carr from Florida Monday, agreed to a $325,000, one-year contract with the outfielder.
Scott Livingstone, who started most of the last two months of the 1995 season at first base for San Diego, agreed to a $1.15 million, two-year contract with the Padres.
The New York Yankees were said to be closing in on a two-year deal with second baseman Mariano Duncan. The Yankees surprised some in baseball on Thursday night when they failed to offer salary arbitration to Jack McDowell and lost negotiating rights until May 1.
Among the group not offered arbitration were pitchers Tom Gordon and Ken Hill, shortstop Shawon Dunston, outfielders Rickey Henderson and Roberto Kelly and catcher Benito Santiago.
Boston almost lost negotiating rights to Jose Canseco, but the outfielder and the Red Sox agreed to a $9 million, two-year deal that gives him the chance to earn $1 million extra each season in bonuses. Although the deal wasn’t reported until about 30 minutes after the deadline, lawyers for players and owners agreed to let it go through. Canseco gets a $4.5 million base salary in each of the next two seasons, a cut of $600,000 from the final season of the $23.5 million, five-year deal he completed in 1995. Boston has an option for 1998 at his 1997 earnings.
Nagy, who had a $1.8 million salary this year, gets a $125,000 signing bonus and $3.25 million in each of the next two seasons. Cleveland can exercise a 1998 option at $3.33 million or pay a $125,000 buyout. He can earn $100,000 bonus each year for pitching 220 innings. Nagy, 28, had been eligible for salary arbitration.
Navarro, 27, gets a $400,000 signing bonus and $3 million in 1996. The pitcher has has an option for 1997 at $3.6 million plus any award bonuses he earns next year.