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03-05-2004, 07:11 AM
Brewers (http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mil/news/mil_news.jsp?ymd=20040304&content_id=645492&vkey=spt2004news&fext=.jsp) -- When the Brewers showed up for Spring Training, only one player had a Major League contract past this season.
"It's spreading," outfielder Geoff Jenkins joked.
Jenkins was the first to join Wes Helms in that club, inking a three-year extension on Tuesday. Another player joined on Thursday when utility man Keith Ginter agreed to a three-year contract that guarantees $1.925 million and includes escalators that can increase its total value to $2.875 million.
"I took a little risk, but the most important thing is the stability for me and my wife," said Ginter, who now will not be eligible for salary arbitration until 2007. "And to know that I'm going to be here for three years and that they plan on me being a part of this organization for three years. That meant a lot to me and I really appreciate it."
Ginter gets a $100,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $350,000 this year, $450,000 in 2005 and $1,025,000 in 2006. If he reaches certain plate appearance milestones, his 2005 salary could increase to $600,000 and his 2006 salary to $1,825,000.
Before Thursday's deadline to sign players for 2004, the team also signed outfielder Scott Podsednik, infielders Lyle Overbay and Bill Hall and left-handers Chris Capuano and Wayne Franklin to one-year deals. Left-hander Doug Davis, who was one day shy of salary arbitration last year, opted to have his contract renewed.
There is limited precedent for awarding three-year contracts to players like Ginter, who enters the season with one year and 61 days of Major League service time. Ginter said GM Doug Melvin first floated the idea about two months ago.
Why did it make sense? Ginter can play with the peace of mind afforded by guaranteed money, and the Brewers were able to buy out one of his arbitration years, a move that could prove a cost-saver.
"I think any player ... is better to take some guaranteed money, and then they still have a chance to hit the jackpot later on," said Melvin, who as GM of the Texas Rangers worked out a similar arrangement early in Rusty Greer's career.
"All I heard was 'multi-year contract' and I got excited about it," Ginter said. "I talked to my agent about it and he told me, 'You know, it's going to be low and all the numbers aren't going to be right.' But for them to even think about doing it tells me a little bit about what's going on around here."
Melvin made the deal worth Ginter's interest by making it heavy on incentives. Ginter will get bonuses for reaching 300, 400 or 500 plate appearances in each of the next two seasons, and can earn separate incentives by hitting 900, 1,000 or 1,100 plate appearances over the two-year period.
"It was a process," Ginter said. "This is a seven-page contract."
Ginter was the incumbent to start at second base this season until the Brewers acquired former All-Star Junior Spivey in December. He will enter the year as a utility man and could see action at as many as six positions -- first, second and third base, shortstop and the corner outfield spots.
He finished last season as the team's starting second baseman and led National League rookies with 14 home runs to go with a .257 average and 44 RBIs. All of his homers came after June 6.
"It shows you what we think of the guy," Yost said of the deal.
"It's spreading," outfielder Geoff Jenkins joked.
Jenkins was the first to join Wes Helms in that club, inking a three-year extension on Tuesday. Another player joined on Thursday when utility man Keith Ginter agreed to a three-year contract that guarantees $1.925 million and includes escalators that can increase its total value to $2.875 million.
"I took a little risk, but the most important thing is the stability for me and my wife," said Ginter, who now will not be eligible for salary arbitration until 2007. "And to know that I'm going to be here for three years and that they plan on me being a part of this organization for three years. That meant a lot to me and I really appreciate it."
Ginter gets a $100,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $350,000 this year, $450,000 in 2005 and $1,025,000 in 2006. If he reaches certain plate appearance milestones, his 2005 salary could increase to $600,000 and his 2006 salary to $1,825,000.
Before Thursday's deadline to sign players for 2004, the team also signed outfielder Scott Podsednik, infielders Lyle Overbay and Bill Hall and left-handers Chris Capuano and Wayne Franklin to one-year deals. Left-hander Doug Davis, who was one day shy of salary arbitration last year, opted to have his contract renewed.
There is limited precedent for awarding three-year contracts to players like Ginter, who enters the season with one year and 61 days of Major League service time. Ginter said GM Doug Melvin first floated the idea about two months ago.
Why did it make sense? Ginter can play with the peace of mind afforded by guaranteed money, and the Brewers were able to buy out one of his arbitration years, a move that could prove a cost-saver.
"I think any player ... is better to take some guaranteed money, and then they still have a chance to hit the jackpot later on," said Melvin, who as GM of the Texas Rangers worked out a similar arrangement early in Rusty Greer's career.
"All I heard was 'multi-year contract' and I got excited about it," Ginter said. "I talked to my agent about it and he told me, 'You know, it's going to be low and all the numbers aren't going to be right.' But for them to even think about doing it tells me a little bit about what's going on around here."
Melvin made the deal worth Ginter's interest by making it heavy on incentives. Ginter will get bonuses for reaching 300, 400 or 500 plate appearances in each of the next two seasons, and can earn separate incentives by hitting 900, 1,000 or 1,100 plate appearances over the two-year period.
"It was a process," Ginter said. "This is a seven-page contract."
Ginter was the incumbent to start at second base this season until the Brewers acquired former All-Star Junior Spivey in December. He will enter the year as a utility man and could see action at as many as six positions -- first, second and third base, shortstop and the corner outfield spots.
He finished last season as the team's starting second baseman and led National League rookies with 14 home runs to go with a .257 average and 44 RBIs. All of his homers came after June 6.
"It shows you what we think of the guy," Yost said of the deal.