White Sox’s $55 Million Deal Determines For Whom Belle Toils
A new team and a $55 million contract certainly make Albert Belle richer. But don’t look for him to be any nicer.
The Chicago White Sox made Belle baseball’s highest-paid player Tuesday, giving the prized free agent a five-year contract.
The White Sox get a slugger who generated big numbers for the Cleveland Indians, along with a lot of commotion.
“I’ll continue to be Albert Belle,” he said. “I’m not going to change my personality because someone wants me to change. My No. 1 priority is to produce.”
Pressed by reporters about his nasty reputation, Belle responded: “The bad-guy image you gave me, right? My main concern is what goes on on the field. I can’t please everyone.”
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, urged by star Frank Thomas to sign Belle, outbid the Indians and Florida Marlins with a package said to give Chicago a $5 million buyout for a sixth season.
“It’s not about the most money,” Belle said. “I’m sure I could have shopped around and got more money. You got to look at the personnel, you got to look at the organization and the direction it’s heading.”
While the details weren’t immediately available, Belle’s package was thought to eclipse both Barry Bonds’ $43.75 million, six-year contract with San Francisco and Ken Griffey Jr.’s $8.5 million average salary under his $34 million, four-year deal with Seattle.
Belle, suspended five times during eight often-tempestuous seasons with the Indians, led them in 1995 to their first A.L. pennant in 41 years and a second consecutive A.L. Central title in 1996.
Belle has been suspended five times in the last six years, including once in 1994 for using a corked bat against the White Sox.
“I just want to come over and be an integral part and continue to put up big numbers and play defense and watch Frank Thomas hit more home runs. I get to see it first-handed now,” Belle said.
In 1995, Belle became the first player in major-league history to hit 50 doubles and 50 homers in the same season. Last season, he hit 48 more homers with a league-leading 148 RBIs.
He has a career slugging percentage of .580, which is second among active players to Thomas’ .599. Belle and Thomas are the only active players to drive in 100 runs in each of the past five seasons.
Belle has 234 homers and 711 RBIs the last six years and Thomas has 215 homers and 698 RBIs over the same period.
Reinsdorf began negotiations with Belle’s agent, Arn Tellem, after he asked Thomas which player he would like to see the White Sox pursue: Belle or Bonds. Thomas didn’t hesitate in picking Belle.
Reinsdorf, also owner of the Chicago Bulls, now has the highest-paid players in two sports. Michael Jordan’s $30.14 million, one-year deal with the Bulls is the highest average salary in team sports.
Reinsdorf, a leading critic of baseball’s current labor system, voted against the proposed labor deal last month. If the new deal had been in effect, adding Belle would have forced the White Sox to pay a luxury tax next year.
“It is perfectly fiscally responsible for us to give him this money,” Reinsdorf said. “We have to compete under the system that exists.”