Cubs Show Sosa The Money

Sammy Sosa became the third-highest paid player in baseball Friday, signing a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs for $42.5 million.

Sosa, who’s earning $5.25 million this season, will receive yearly salaries of $7 million in 1998, $8 million in 1999, $10 million in 2000 and $11 million in 2001. Sosa and the Cubs have a mutual option for $12 million in 2002. If Sosa exercises it but the Cubs decline, he would get an additional $2.5 million buyout. If the option is exercised, the contract would be worth $52 million over five seasons.

Sosa received a $4 million signing bonus, with $2 million payable now, and $2 million due in January.

San Francisco’s Barry Bonds leads the game with an annual salary of $11.45 million, followed by Albert Belle of the Chicago White Sox at $11 million under a five-year deal.

Sosa’s contract averages to $10,625,000, ahead of Florida’s Gary Sheffield at $10,166,667.

“People always talk about the millions of dollars,” Sosa said. “This is not my type of thing. Money doesn’t mean anything to me. The only reason I’m here is because I play good.”

Orioles trade for Berroa

The Baltimore Orioles finally ended their search for a power hitter, obtaining Geronimo Berroa from the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Jimmy Haynes and a player to be named.

Berroa, 32, hit .310 with 16 homers and 42 RBIs in 73 games with the A’s this season.

Belle granted immunity

Albert Belle, the slugging outfielder who admitted $40,000 in gambling losses, was granted immunity in a federal investigation of illegal bookmaking, money laundering and tax fraud.

A high-ranking baseball official, who spoke on the condition he not be identified, said the Chicago White Sox outfielder was interviewed by federal investigators, but is not the target of the probe and is unlikely to testify before a grand jury.

CNN-SI reported that federal officials are investigating the activities of illegal bookmakers in Cleveland and Buffalo.

Food-fighting fans

Fans are waging a food fight at the gates of Turner Field.

Barred from bringing their own food and drinks into the Braves’ new home, fans are using savvy smuggling to protest pricey concessions such as $3.50 Cokes.

The food flap has kept the Braves management on the defensive ever since Turner Field opened in March. Even the boss, Ted Turner himself, fumed when he found out what a soft drink cost.

Stories of guards confiscating baby formula from mothers and taking sugar-free snacks from diabetics have added fuel to the furor.

Urging fans to make sneak-a-snack an Atlanta pastime, local talk radio host Ian Punnett said, “Why the hell are they not letting people bring in their own food? The prices are so high that even a millionaire like Ted Turner doesn’t want to buy.”

Scout accused of sexual abuse

Luis Rosa, a former San Francisco Giants scout, denied allegations by eight young players from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, that he sexually abused them.

“I have a clean history in baseball,” Rosa told The Associated Press in an interview in Puerto Rico.

Rosa, who has signed many prominent Latin players, such as brothers Sandy and Roberto Alomar, Juan Gonzalez and Carlos Baerga to contracts in the major leagues, resigned from the Giants on June 13. He said he is willing to go to the Dominican Republic to “defend my reputation.”

Butler not seriously injured

L.A. Dodgers outfielder Brett Butler saw a chiropractor and was given the day off by manager Bill Russell after straining his neck and right shoulder Thursday. The injury was not as bad as previously suspected.