Abreu signs richest contract in Phillies history

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Outfielder Bobby Abreu signed the richest contract in Philadelphia Phillies history, agreeing Wednesday to a $64 million, five-year extension with a team option that could make the deal worth $78 million.

The contract was announced five days after third baseman Scott Rolen publicly criticized Phillies management for what he called a lack of commitment to winning.

General manager Ed Wade brushed aside those criticisms.

“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,” Wade said.

Phillies fans should clearly view this as a statement as to how committed we are to our core players.”

Abreu, 27, is getting $6 million in 2002, the final season of a $14.25 million, three-year contract, and was eligible for free agency after the 2003 season. The new deal calls for a $3 million signing bonus and salaries of $8.5 million in 2003, $10 million in 2004, $12.5 million in 2005, $13 million in 2006 and $15 million in 2007.

Minnesota Twins owner prepares to sell team

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Twins owner Carl Pohlad announced Wednesday a procedure to sell the team and said he will require a new owner to keep it in Minnesota.

“I believe that our fans in the Upper Midwest want the Twins to continue to play here,” Pohlad said. He added that “may best be achieved” by a sale.

While Pohlad has been open to selling the team in the past, its future was thrown into doubt when baseball owners voted Nov. 6 to eliminate two teams. Their labor negotiators later told the players’ association that the Twins and Expos were the intended targets.

Pohlad, a Minneapolis banker who has owned the team since 1984, has been sharply criticized for going along with the contraction plan, or at least not opposing it publicly.

After the contraction plan was announced, doubts grew about the ability of potential bidders to match price — perhaps $150 million or more — Pohlad was expected to get.
Two bidders have emerged for the Twins: Alabama businessman Donald Watkins and a group of Twin Cities lawyers and businessmen.

In his statement Wednesday, Pohlad said offers for the team would be reviewed by Minneapolis lawyer Ralph Strangis. Pohlad said his objective is to receive “fair value under circumstances that include a satisfactory new stadium resolution.”

“The controversial process of deciding whether Minnesota should keep a major league baseball team has been complicated by the public’s perceptions of recent MLB decisions,” Pohlad said.

The establishment of the sale process Wednesday isn’t the first time Pohlad has appeared close to selling the team.

In 1999, then-St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman put together a proposal to build a ballpark in St. Paul that included Pohlad selling the Twins to Glen Taylor, owner of the NBA’s Timberwolves, and Bob Naegele, managing partner of the NHL’s Wild.

But St. Paul voters rejected a sales tax increase to pay for part of the stadium and the sale never happened.

Gooden arrested on drunk driving charges

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Former star pitcher Dwight Gooden was arrested on drunken driving charges Wednesday after police officers said they spotted his car swerving on an expressway.

Police said the 37-year-old Gooden — now an assistant to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner — was charged with intoxication, having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle and driving with a suspended license.

Gooden was released from Hillsborough County Jail on $500 bond.

“The first thing I do is worry,” said David Cone, Gooden’s teammate with the New York Mets and Yankees. “I’m worried about a friend. I certainly support Doc. I’m always going to be behind him.”

Gooden declined comment as he left the jail, telling reporters he would release a statement in coming days.

Gooden’s attorney, Joseph Ficarrotta, did not immediately return calls for comment.

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