Sheffield Hits $61 Million Jackpot
Gary Sheffield and the Florida Marlins finalized the largest contract package in baseball history Wednesday, a $61 million, six-year extension.
“A deal like this, guys haven’t gotten it before,” the All-Star right fielder said Wednesday at a press conference in Miami. “I can’t believe it. I’m spaced out, basically.”
The contract runs from 1998 through 2003. In total money, it surpasses the $55 million, five-year contract Albert Belle signed with the Chicago White Sox.
Sheffield’s current $24.45 million, four-year contract expires after this season, but he decided to remain with a team that is expected to contend for the pennant for the first time this season.
The contract continues an unprecedented spending spree by the Marlins, who committed nearly $100 million during the off-season to hire manager Jim Leyland and sign six free agents.
Sheffield, 28, had his best season in 1996, hitting .314 with 42 homers and 120 RBIs. He will earn $6.1 million this year, and the new deal calls for 10 million per season from 1998-2002 and $11 million in 2003. Florida has an $11 million option for 2004.
If Sheffield plays all 162 games each season, he’ll earn $6,276 per game during the life of the contract. The native of Tampa, Fla., is building a $2.8 million waterfront mansion in St. Petersburg, scheduled for completion in May. But he decided against seeking a contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays next season.
“I didn’t want to go through the expansion experience again,” he said.
The contract might not be Sheffield’s last. He said he hopes to play 10 more years.
Ripken lands new contract
Cal Ripken agreed to a contract extension that virtually assures him of finishing his career with the Baltimore Orioles, the only major-league team he’s ever played for.
The extension guarantees Ripken $15.1 million over the 1998 and 1999 seasons. He will get $6.3 million in each of the next two years. The Orioles have an option for 2000 at $6.3 million with a $2.5 million buyout.
Ripken played in his major league-record 2,317th consecutive game Wednesday, only the seventh at third base since July 1982.
Irabu won’t apologize, Hideki Irabu has no intention of apologizing for his remarks about his Japanese team and won’t sign a statement saying he’ll never become a free agent and player in the major leagues.
The Chiba Lotte Marines, Irabu’s team in Japan’s Pacific League, set those two conditions on Tuesday for taking the pitcher back. Chiba wants Irabu to send a letter to all major league teams stating he will never play for them
Orioles ask to play in Cuba
A Florida congresswoman urged the State Department to reject a request from the Baltimore Orioles to play exhibition games in Cuba.
In a letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen called the proposal a “publicity stunt” that would be “a propaganda coup” for Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
The Orioles had proposed to play exhibition games in Cuba this fall.