Bagwell Agrees to Extension with Astros

By
ABC News
January 7, 2006, 5:19 AM ET
3 min read

H O U S T O N, Dec. 19, 2000 -- 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.

Bagwell, a Boston native who lives in Houston, hit a career-high47 homers, drove in 132 runs and scored a club-record 152 times,the most since Chuck Klein scored 158 for the Philadelphia Philliesin 1930.

Off-season Moves Put Deal in Motion

Bagwell said moves the Astros made in the off-season helped fuelhis desire to negotiate a long-term contract.

“I think we’re all going to have a great time here inHouston,” Bagwell said. “And over the next five or six years,we’re going to bring a championship to Texas.”

A trade with Detroit brought catcher Brad Ausmus and relieversDoug Brocail and Nelson Cruz to the Astros. The team also signedfree agent reliever Mike Jackson.

General manager Gerry Hunsicker was upbeat as the Astros try toreverse the fortunes of 2000, when they inaugurated their newdowntown stadium with a 72-90 record.

“I truly cannot imagine a more important announcement thatgives us reason and hope to get down to Kissimmee,” Hunsickersaid, referring to the team’s spring Florida home. “With Jeff inthe fold, we’ll accomplish special things together.”