Williams Asks Yankees For Record $9 Million In Salary Arbitration
Bernie Williams, entering perhaps his final season with the New York Yankees, asked for a record $9 million in salary arbitration Monday.
New York countered at $7.5 million, the highest figure ever offered by a team and a raise of $2.2 million.
Williams’ request topped the $7.65 million Los Angeles catcher Mike Piazza submitted last year.
If Williams wins at arbitration, he would have the largest one-year contract ever in baseball, topping the $8.5 million Toronto pitcher Pat Hentgen will receive in 1999.
Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte asked for a six-fold increase from $700,000 to $4.39 million and was offered $3.25 million.
Boston second baseman John Valentin submitted the second-highest figure, $7 million. Boston offered $5.5 million.
Los Angeles outfielder Raul Mondesi asked for a raise from $2.7 million to $6.5 million, while the Dodgers offered $5.3 million.
New York Mets pitcher Bobby Jones asked for a raise from $1,925,000 to $4.15 million and was offered $3.1 million.
Atlanta Braves catcher Javy Lopez asked for $4.3 million and was offered $3.5 million.
Right-hander Armando Benitez and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract.
Right-hander Bobby Witt and the Texas Rangers agreed to a $3.25 million, one-year contract.
Mark Clark and Kevin Foster, two-fifths of the Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation, agreed to one-year contracts. Clark will make $5.05 million and Foster will make $1.45 million.
Shortstop Royce Clayton and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract.
Infielder Keith Lockhart and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract.
Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado had arthroscopic surgery on his injured right shoulder and will miss the first two months of the season.
Baseball greats Ted Williams and Bob Feller have petitioned the baseball commissioner’s office to clear the late “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s name and make him eligible to join them in the Hall of Fame.