SAN FRANCISCO -- During last year's All-Star Game, Barry Bonds put on a New York Yankees uniform for a picture with his son
Nikolai, who wanted to wear his father's San Francisco uniform.
|
Bonds' deal year-by-year
|
|
2002: $13 million salary ($5 million of which is deferred), plus the first installment of signing bonus -- $2.5 million.
2003: $13 million ($5 million deferred), plus the second installment of signing bonus -- $3.5 million.
2004: $16 million ($5 million deferred), plus the third installment of signing bonus -- $4 million (total of $10 million signing bonus, paid out in three installments)
2005: $20 million salary ($5 million deferred)
2006 (if it's not voided): $18 million salary ($5 million deferred)
Award bonuses: for winning MVP, Gold Glove, etc.
Personal-services contract: 10 years in length, beginning after his playing career ends. He would come to spring training, make appearances for the club, etc.
Reason for breaking up bonus: to protect Bonds in case of a work stoppage in any of those three years (signing bonuses are paid, salary isn't if there's a stoppage)
-- Jayson Stark, ESPN.com
|
"Gary Sheffield came by and said I looked like crud," Bonds
recalled on Monday night. "He said I looked better in a Giants
uniform."
Bonds agreed to $90 million, five-year contract with the Giants on Monday, and as a result he is all but guaranteed to remain in a
San Francisco uniform until he retires. The deal also calls for a
10-year personal service contract -- with the Giants to pay $1
million annually to the Bonds Family Foundation -- after his playing
career is over.
"We believe we have the best player in the game signed with the
Giants for the next four years at least," Giants owner and
president Peter Magowan said. "I can't say this day would happen,
but both sides wanted it to happen. He has a decent shot at the
home run record of Hank Aaron, the runs scored record, the walks
record and 3,000 hits."
Bonds had one of the greatest seasons in baseball history in
2001, hitting 73 homers to break the previous record of 70, set by
Mark McGwire in 1998. The 37-year-old outfielder also had an .863
slugging percentage and 177 walks, breaking season records set by
Babe Ruth.
"My heart has always been here," Bonds said. "No amount of
money would make me leave San Francisco, to be honest with you. I
always wanted to stay a San Francisco Giant. Unless there was a
blockbuster, out-of-the world offer, I wasn't going to leave. All I
want now is a World Series ring."
Bonds, the first player to win four Most Valuable Player awards,
became a free agent after the season, but the Giants were the only
team to acknowledge a bid. He accepted the team's offer of salary
arbitration on Dec. 20, and the sides were set to exchange proposed
salaries Friday for a one-year contract.
|
Highest-paid players
|
|
Top 10 baseball contracts by average annual value. Figures obtained by AP from player
and management sources and include all guaranteed income but not
income from potential incentive bonuses. There is no distinction
for money deferred without interest (x-the Yankees value this as a
three-year contract averaging $10.3 million):
|
|
Player
|
Years
|
Avg.
|
|
Alex Rodriguez
|
'01-10
|
$25.2M
|
|
Manny Ramirez
|
'01-08
|
$20.0M
|
|
Derek Jeter
|
'01-10
|
$18.9M
|
|
Sammy Sosa
|
'02-05
|
$18.0M
|
|
Barry Bonds
|
'02-06
|
$18.0M
|
|
Jason Giambi
|
'02-08
|
$17.14M
|
|
Jeff Bagwell
|
'02-06
|
$17.0M
|
|
Carlos Delgado
|
'01-04
|
$17.0M
|
|
Todd Helton
|
'03-11
|
$15.72
|
|
Roger Clemens-x
|
'01-02
|
$15.45M
|
"Peter Magowan made my childhood dream come true," Bonds said.
"I'm so excited right now I want to call my godfather (Willie
Mays) and tell him I get to play in his backyard the rest of my
career."
Bonds will receive a $10 million signing bonus to be paid
through April 2004. He gets salaries of $13 million in each of the
next two seasons, $16 million in 2004, $20 million in 2005 and $18
million in 2006.
"I took what I wanted," Bonds said. "My main goal is winning.
Through long hours of work, we were able to structure everything to
benefit us and keep the Giants competitive. I'm glad I was able to
help myself and the organization. I want to win here."
He isn't concerned about getting too old to fulfill the deal.
"If I can't play, I'll leave gracefully," he said. "Don't
worry."
The average annual value of $18 million ties Bonds with Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs for the fourth-highest in baseball,
trailing only Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million),
Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez ($20 million) and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter ($18.9 million).
"He did not require the optimum contract," said Bonds' agent,
Scott Boras. "He just wanted to be placed in the group of top
players. Tradition is a hard thing to negotiate, and his tradition
lies with the San Francisco Giants."
Only the first four years and $72 million are guaranteed. If
Bonds doesn't have 500 or more plate appearances in 2005, the team
can void the final year of the contract. If Bonds has 1,500 or more
plate appearances combined from 2003 to 2005, including 400 or more
in the final year, the last season becomes guaranteed.
The Giants will defer $5 million of year's salary, money to be
paid from 2007 to 2011. Bonds, who has a no-trade clause, gets $2.5
million of the signing bonus on April 1, $3.5 million on April 1,
2003, and $4 million on April 1, 2004.
"His personal accomplishments speak for themselves," Giants
general manager Brian Sabean said. "He is such a vital element to
our club's success."
Bonds said he was also encouraged by the Giants' previous
offseason deals. They got Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Desi Relaford in a
trade with the New York Mets and signed free-agent outfielder
Reggie Sanders and pitchers Jason Schmidt and Jason Christiansen.
"When they did all those trades, I told Scott if we don't hurry
up (and sign), I'm going to kill you," Bonds said. "I was
excited. I think Brian Sabean and everybody here put a lot of
effort into this."
While Bonds was pursuing the home run record, he insisted he
would enter the Hall of Fame in the uniform of the team with which
he retired.
"I'm a Giant for life," Bonds said. "Both sides wanted to
have relationships for the long term. I wanted to be part of this
organization for life, even after I retire."
Teams were wary of a long-term deal because of his age and lack
of success in the postseason, where he has a .196 average
(19-for-97) with one homer and six RBI.
Bonds has 567 career homers, seventh on the career list and 188
short of Hank Aaron's record.
Information from ESPN.com's Jayson Stark and the Associated Press is included in this report.
| |
|
AllNight
