Lima Lands 3-Year Contract To Avoid Salary Arbitration

Thu., Jan. 6, 2000

Jose Lima, the Astros pitcher who has endeared himself to Houston fans with his flamboyance, agreed Wednesday to an $18.75 million, three-year contract that avoids salary arbitration.

“It’s been a great thing for me to come to this city.

I’m making money now, and I don’t want to leave for a long time,” Lima said at a news conference, accompanied by his wife, Melissa, and 18-month-old son, Jose Jr.

Lima, an afterthought in an eight-player trade with the Detroit Tigers in 1996, has gone 37-18 in the past two seasons, including 21-10 with a 3.58 ERA last year as Houston won its third straight N.L. Central title.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, seeking to improve their bullpen, signed right-handed reliever Gregg Olson of Arizona to a two-year contract.

After spending more than three years away from baseball, Andre Dawson returned to the game when the Florida Marlins hired him as special assistant to the general manager.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Bobby Chouinard was indicted by a Maricopa County grand jury in Phoenix on a charge of aggravated assault for hitting his wife and pointing a handgun at her head on Christmas night.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and other top leaders of the sport encouraged a group of insurgent umpires to break off from their union and form a new one, Richie Phillips claimed during a federal hearing in New York.

Shareholders of Cleveland Indians Baseball Co. will be asked to vote at a special meeting Feb. 7 to approve the $320 million sale to of the American League franchise to lawyer Larry Dolan.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Lima Lands 3-Year Contract To Avoid Salary Arbitration

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Mead's Simon Rosselli leaves state meet with another title in hand, devoted to pursuit of his 'masterpiece' | Dave Boling

WSU bats go silent in 4-0 loss to Oregon, sending Cougars to loser-out game in Eugene Regional

Gonzaga Prep baffled by Sumner sophomore in 7-0 loss in 4A title game; Northwest Christian settles for fourth in 2B | State baseball