Bagwell Agrees to Extension with Astros

H O U S T O N, Dec. 19 -- Jeff Bagwell, the Astros’ greatest hitter, agreedtoday to an $85 million, five-year contract extension through2006.

At a news conference announcing the deal, Bagwell lauded clubofficials for getting a contract done before the 2001 season, whichwould have been his last under the current agreement.

“It comes down to being a Houston Astro,” Bagwell said. “I’ve been here 10 years, and that means something to me.”

The deal, which includes a $7 million buyout of a club optionfor 2007, averages $17 million, matching Toronto first basemanCarlos Delgado for the third-highest in baseball behind Texasshortstop Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million) and Boston outfielderManny Ramirez ($20 million).

Bagwell, 32, gets $6.5 million next year in the final season ofhis current contract. Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. had calledsigning Bagwell the team’s top priority.

“He’s certainly a kind, thoughtful human being whom I call afriend, and someone I really enjoy,” McLane said after presentingBagwell’s wife, Ericka, a bouquet of flowers.

Wants to Leave a Legacy

Bagwell, the 1994 NL Most Valuable Player, holds team recordsfor career home runs (310) and RBIs (1,093) while hitting .305.

Bagwell, a Boston native, said growing up as a Red Sox fan hecould names such as Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski with hisfavorite team, and he wants to leave a similar legacy here.

“Nowadays when you say Houston Astros, you think of [Craig]Biggio and Bagwell, and I’m proud of that,” Bagwell said. “I want people to continue to say that. I want to be a Houston Astro therest of my career and retire, and with the help of the organizationthey made it an easy decision.”

Bagwell was a minor-league third baseman when he arrived in a 1990trading-deadline deal with the Boston Red Sox, who received veteranreliever Larry Andersen. He quickly was moved to first base, wherehe has played ever since.