Sizemore gets unprecedented deal
Popular center fielder Grady Sizemore signed a $23.45 million, six-year contract Wednesday with the Cleveland Indians, the most guaranteed money in a deal for a player with less than two years of major league service.
The agreement includes an $8.5 million club option for 2012 with a $500,000 buyout. If the option is exercised, the deal would total $31.45 million over seven seasons, and the option price could increase to $10.5 million depending on whether Sizemore is an All-Star, Gold Glove or Silver Slugger or does well in MVP voting.
If traded, the option becomes Sizemore’s decision and the buyout is forfeited if he declines the option.
Previously, the largest deal for a player with less than two years in the majors was the $23.25 million, five-year contract Boston gave to shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in March 1998.
Sizemore has played only one full season in the majors, but the 23-year-old outfielder did enough to impress the Indians. He batted .289 with 22 homers and 81 RBIs in 158 games last season. He also scored 111 runs, had 22 steals and became the second Indians player to record 20 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season. He was the only player in the majors to reach those numbers last season.
“We are committed to building and sustaining a championship team and Grady – as one of the most talented young players in the game today – is the kind of player and person that can help lead us to that goal,” general manager Mark Shapiro said.
Kent signs extension
Second baseman Jeff Kent and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to an $11.5 million, one-year contract extension through 2007.
The 38-year-old Kent, who gets $9.4 million this year under his previous contract, receives a $2 million signing bonus payable in installments and a 2007 salary of $9 million. The deal contains a $9 million team option for 2008 with a $500,000 buyout, and the option would become guaranteed if he has 550 plate appearances in 2007.
With performance bonuses and escalators, the extension could be worth $22.35 million over two years.
Eaton injures finger again
Adam Eaton left his final spring training start for the Texas Rangers in the second inning, feeling pain in the same finger that sent him to the disabled list in San Diego last season.
Eaton, who was trailing his former team 3-1, came out because of discomfort in his right middle finger. He was scheduled to pitch the Rangers’ second game Tuesday against Boston but said he probably would miss several starts.
Burnett will miss starts
Toronto’s A.J. Burnett won’t make his first two starts of the season and will go on the disabled list.
Burnett threw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time since taking himself out of a game March 18 complaining about elbow pain.
An MRI exam showed it was just scar tissue breaking away from his right elbow, and the team has been cautious. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Burnett will make his first start against the Chicago White Sox on April 16.
Klesko may start on DL
The San Diego Padres are leaning toward putting first baseman Ryan Klesko on the disabled list to start the season because of a sore left shoulder.
If Klesko is put on the DL, San Diego-area native Adrian Gonzalez, a former No. 1 draft pick, would be the opening-day starter against San Francisco on Monday at Petco Park.
Klesko missed his fourth straight game and had a cortisone shot during the weekend.
Klesko last played on Saturday, meaning the Padres could put him on the DL retroactive to Sunday and he’d miss the first six games.
Oswalt will start opener
Roy Oswalt will start the Houston Astros’ opener against Florida on Monday.
The 28-year-old right-hander, coming off his second straight 20-win season, will start his fourth straight opener.
Manager Phil Garner said that Andy Pettitte, Brandon Backe and Wandy Rodriguez will follow Oswalt in the rotation. His fifth starter is undecided, but rookie Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve emerged as front-runners during spring training.