Baseball: delgado signs with marlins, page 1

Delgado agrees to sign $52 million deal with Marlins

By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer
January 25, 2005
MIAMI (AP) -- Free-agent first baseman Carlos Delgado agreed Tuesday to a $52 million, four-year contract with the Florida Marlins, who added the left-handed power they've lacked.

The agreement, which contains an option year that makes it potentially worth $64 million over five seasons, is contingent on Delgado passing a physical Wednesday, the Marlins said. A news conference tentatively is set for Thursday.

Delgado makes Florida perhaps the team to beat in the NL East.

``It's a spectacular day for the franchise,'' owner Jeffrey Loria said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. ``I'm going to spring training tomorrow. I'm not waiting.''

The Marlins won the World Series in 1997 and 2003 but are still seeking their first division title and trying to win support for a new ballpark.

``We're about trying to be a very competitive ballclub, and the stadium will take of itself in due time,'' Loria said. ``But Carlos certainly is not going to hurt that effort.''

Delgado's deal calls for him to get just $4 million this year, a baseball official told the AP on condition of anonymity.

Delgado receives $13.5 million in 2006, $14.5 million in 2007 and $16 million in 2008, and the agreement includes a $16 million option for 2009 that would become guaranteed based on how Delgado does in MVP voting and whether he earns postseason MVP awards.

If the option doesn't become guaranteed, Florida would have the right to exercise a $12 million option. If the option is declined, Delgado would get a $4 million buyout.

Delgado chose the Marlins over offers from the New York Mets, Texas and Baltimore.

The Marlins made an initial offer of $35 million for three years, the richest per-season deal in franchise history, then went even higher to win the bidding. The contract will push their payroll above $56 million for the first time.

They landed the most formidable left-handed power hitter in their 12-year history. Delgado, 32, hit at least 30 homers each of the past eight seasons in Toronto. Last season he batted .269 last season for Toronto with 32 homers and 99 RBIs.

The Marlins were 11th in the NL in runs and 12th in homers last year. Their top left-handed hitter, Juan Pierre, totaled three home runs.

Even so, Florida was in the race for a wild-card berth until mid-September, finishing 83-79, 13 games behind division winner Atlanta.

The deal with Delgado was sealed 10 days after he flew from his native Puerto Rico to Miami and spent 5 1/2 hours with Marlins officials, including Loria.

Delgado's agent, David Sloane, said negotiations with the Rangers fell apart because they wanted him primarily as a designated hitter.

Under the deal, the option year would become guaranteed if Delgado accumulates 30 points in the next four years. He would get 10 points for winning the NL MVP award and nine for finishing second and so on under a formula that gives him one point for finishing 10th. He would get 20 points if he's the World Series MVP and 10 if he's the league championship series MVP