Baseball Guru
02-20-2002, 07:24 PM
Right fielder agrees to richest deal in Phillies history
By Paul C. Smith
MLB.com
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Philadelphia Phillies opened their full squad Spring Training workouts in grand style on Wednesday by signing 30/30 outfielder Bobby Abreu to a five year, $64 million contract extension.
Abreu, whose former contract was to expire at the end of this season, agreed to a deal that could be worth a total of $78. No matter what, the 27-year-old right fielder becomes the highest paid player in Phillies history.
"I'm excited, I just wanted to be on this team for a long, long time," Abreu said. "This is the organization that gave me an opportunity to be an everyday player and I wanted to stay here."
The Phillies got Abreu in a trade for shortstop Kevin Stocker with Tampa Bay after Houston made Abreu available in the Dec., 1997 expansion draft. At that time, the Astros had top prospects in Richard Hidalgo, Lance Berkman and Daryle Ward and the Rays were interested in acquiring an everyday shortstop.
"We were able to work it out with (Rays GM) Chuck LaMar and Bobby has not disappointed us at any moment since," Wade said. "Our stated objective has been to keep the core of this club together for a long time. Signing Bobby is a clear indication that what we say is what we mean."
Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen on Saturday said the reason he did not accept a 10-year $140 million offer from the team last year was because he believes that ownership was not prepared to do the things Rolen believes need to be done to make the Phillies a championship team.
Wade said Rolen's comment had nothing to do with the signing of Abreu and the timing is just coincidental.
"This was not a move made to rebut what has been said in the last few days," Wade said. "We have been working on this deal for quite a while (since last December) and Bobby just agreed to the terms yesterday morning.
"We agreed as an organization several years ago to become good and stay good and to do it by keeping this core group together as we build a championship club."
Wade went on to note that five-of-eight regulars on this year's team came directly from the farm system.
"It's seven of eight if you consider the fact that we traded two players from our farm system (Stocker and Mickey Morandini) to get Abreu and Doug Glanville," Wade said. "And, if Dave Coggin makes the starting rotation, 60 percent of out starting staff will be from the farm system, too."
Abreu said he believes the Phillies, who were in the NL East division race until the final week of the season in 2001, are committed to winning.
"If we can sign the rest of the players, I believe we can continue to be competitive," Abreu said. "I know they want to be here because (the Phillies) know how to treat players with respect."
Wade said the Phillies plan to continue to lock up their top young players and mentioned catcher Mike Lieberthal, outfielder Pat Burrell, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Rolen.
"We still have the ability to sign Scott," Wade said. "We've never called ourselves a small-market club. If we're going to be 8-12 in market size, then we expect to have an 8-12 payroll and 8-12 revenue."
Both Wade and Abreu said a new ballpark in Philadelphia made a big difference in the negotiations.
"We could not have made this deal without a new ballpark on the way," Wade said. "And we're excited to have Bobby as a part of the new ballpark."
Abreu said he can't wait.
"The new stadium means a lot to me," Abreu said. "I feel so excited about it. I can't wait to be there for Opening Day. I hope I can play the rest of my career there."
Phils manager Larry Bowa, who had a run-in with Rolen last June, said he hopes the Abreu signing sends a signal to players and fans.
"If anybody still doubts this team's commitment this should answer that," Bowa said. "I have known Ed and (owner) Dave (Montgomery) for a long time. They want to win."
Rolen said on Wednesday that he was, "very happy for Bobby" but declined to discuss his situation any further.
Abreu was in uniform on Wednesday but did not go full speed during the workout because he is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy.
"That was a big, big thing in my life," Abreu said. "It was definitely the scariest thing I've ever been through."
The average annual value of Abreu's contract is $12.8 million, which ranks 18th in baseball ahead of Andruw Jones' $12.5 million and just below the $13 million AAV of Chan Ho Park and Mike Piazza, according to the team. If Abreu's sixth-year option is exercised, it will raise the AAV to $13 million.
The contract also includes bonuses if Abreu finishes in the top three of the NL MVP voting. So, Abreu could make as much as $14 million per year, with incentives and that rivals Shawn Green's deal with the Dodgers.
"Those are Shawn Green's numbers," Wade said. "We feel that's a very compelling and accurate comparison. And we will gladly pay those MVP bonuses."
Wade said when he visited Abreu in Venezuela last winter, that Abreu had 30/30 formed in flowers in his lawn.
"Maybe he'll have 40/40 next year," Wade said. "We don't think he has reached his full potential yet."
Abreu hit .289 last season with 48 doubles, 31 homers, 110 RBI, 118 runs scored and 36 steals. He has increased his doubles and home run production in each of the last six seasons. He is the first Venezuelan and Phillie to have a 30/30 season. And now he has a contract to match that production.
"Hey, he can buy Venezuela now," Lieberthal said.
By Paul C. Smith
MLB.com
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Philadelphia Phillies opened their full squad Spring Training workouts in grand style on Wednesday by signing 30/30 outfielder Bobby Abreu to a five year, $64 million contract extension.
Abreu, whose former contract was to expire at the end of this season, agreed to a deal that could be worth a total of $78. No matter what, the 27-year-old right fielder becomes the highest paid player in Phillies history.
"I'm excited, I just wanted to be on this team for a long, long time," Abreu said. "This is the organization that gave me an opportunity to be an everyday player and I wanted to stay here."
The Phillies got Abreu in a trade for shortstop Kevin Stocker with Tampa Bay after Houston made Abreu available in the Dec., 1997 expansion draft. At that time, the Astros had top prospects in Richard Hidalgo, Lance Berkman and Daryle Ward and the Rays were interested in acquiring an everyday shortstop.
"We were able to work it out with (Rays GM) Chuck LaMar and Bobby has not disappointed us at any moment since," Wade said. "Our stated objective has been to keep the core of this club together for a long time. Signing Bobby is a clear indication that what we say is what we mean."
Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen on Saturday said the reason he did not accept a 10-year $140 million offer from the team last year was because he believes that ownership was not prepared to do the things Rolen believes need to be done to make the Phillies a championship team.
Wade said Rolen's comment had nothing to do with the signing of Abreu and the timing is just coincidental.
"This was not a move made to rebut what has been said in the last few days," Wade said. "We have been working on this deal for quite a while (since last December) and Bobby just agreed to the terms yesterday morning.
"We agreed as an organization several years ago to become good and stay good and to do it by keeping this core group together as we build a championship club."
Wade went on to note that five-of-eight regulars on this year's team came directly from the farm system.
"It's seven of eight if you consider the fact that we traded two players from our farm system (Stocker and Mickey Morandini) to get Abreu and Doug Glanville," Wade said. "And, if Dave Coggin makes the starting rotation, 60 percent of out starting staff will be from the farm system, too."
Abreu said he believes the Phillies, who were in the NL East division race until the final week of the season in 2001, are committed to winning.
"If we can sign the rest of the players, I believe we can continue to be competitive," Abreu said. "I know they want to be here because (the Phillies) know how to treat players with respect."
Wade said the Phillies plan to continue to lock up their top young players and mentioned catcher Mike Lieberthal, outfielder Pat Burrell, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Rolen.
"We still have the ability to sign Scott," Wade said. "We've never called ourselves a small-market club. If we're going to be 8-12 in market size, then we expect to have an 8-12 payroll and 8-12 revenue."
Both Wade and Abreu said a new ballpark in Philadelphia made a big difference in the negotiations.
"We could not have made this deal without a new ballpark on the way," Wade said. "And we're excited to have Bobby as a part of the new ballpark."
Abreu said he can't wait.
"The new stadium means a lot to me," Abreu said. "I feel so excited about it. I can't wait to be there for Opening Day. I hope I can play the rest of my career there."
Phils manager Larry Bowa, who had a run-in with Rolen last June, said he hopes the Abreu signing sends a signal to players and fans.
"If anybody still doubts this team's commitment this should answer that," Bowa said. "I have known Ed and (owner) Dave (Montgomery) for a long time. They want to win."
Rolen said on Wednesday that he was, "very happy for Bobby" but declined to discuss his situation any further.
Abreu was in uniform on Wednesday but did not go full speed during the workout because he is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy.
"That was a big, big thing in my life," Abreu said. "It was definitely the scariest thing I've ever been through."
The average annual value of Abreu's contract is $12.8 million, which ranks 18th in baseball ahead of Andruw Jones' $12.5 million and just below the $13 million AAV of Chan Ho Park and Mike Piazza, according to the team. If Abreu's sixth-year option is exercised, it will raise the AAV to $13 million.
The contract also includes bonuses if Abreu finishes in the top three of the NL MVP voting. So, Abreu could make as much as $14 million per year, with incentives and that rivals Shawn Green's deal with the Dodgers.
"Those are Shawn Green's numbers," Wade said. "We feel that's a very compelling and accurate comparison. And we will gladly pay those MVP bonuses."
Wade said when he visited Abreu in Venezuela last winter, that Abreu had 30/30 formed in flowers in his lawn.
"Maybe he'll have 40/40 next year," Wade said. "We don't think he has reached his full potential yet."
Abreu hit .289 last season with 48 doubles, 31 homers, 110 RBI, 118 runs scored and 36 steals. He has increased his doubles and home run production in each of the last six seasons. He is the first Venezuelan and Phillie to have a 30/30 season. And now he has a contract to match that production.
"Hey, he can buy Venezuela now," Lieberthal said.