CatBoxBackFan
Hall of Famer
AZ Central
Mark Gonzales
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 11, 2004 12:00 AM
ANAHEIM - The Diamondbacks, flush with new investment, signed pitcher Russ Ortiz to a four-year, $33 million contract, giving Ken Kendrick a chance to explain how the formerly financially challenged club could commit $78 million in two days.
"We'll be as responsible financially as competitive on the field," Kendrick, a general partner in the club, said Friday.
Not only do the Diamondbacks say they have the money to afford third baseman Troy Glaus, who agreed to a deal this week, and Ortiz, but they may have room to sign free agents Royce Clayton and Craig Counsell to shore up their defense, as well as former fan favorite David Dellucci as a right fielder.
The funding comes in the form of $260 million in capital over a 10-year period - $160 million raised from the team's four general partners - Kendrick, Dale Jensen, Mike Chipman and Jeffrey Royer - and $100 million from community investors.
Counsell would play second and Clayton shortstop on the Diamondbacks' preferred list. General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said Dellucci was pondering the Diamondbacks' offer, believed to be two years and $2 million.
Agent Gregg Clifton was seeking incentives that could push the deal to $2.5 million and met with Garagiola.
The signings of Glaus and Ortiz, 30, who has won at least 14 games and pitched at least 195 innings in each of his past six seasons, mean the Diamondbacks have earmarked $41.465 million to five players for 2005.
That total includes left-handed ace Randy Johnson, whose agent still would like to see his client pitch elsewhere.
"Randy has a very positive outlook - he just feels determined he needs to be elsewhere," agent Alan Nero said.
Nero said he was well aware of the Diamondbacks' signings and said he and fellow agent Barry Meister, who also represents Counsell, are scheduled to meet with the Diamondbacks' management team tonight.
Kendrick and CEO-elect Jeff Moorad said they were sensitive to Johnson's wishes but didn't rule out the possibility of exploring an extension with the five-time Cy Young Award winner.
The signings of Glaus and Ortiz stunned the national baseball audience at the winter meetings and raised eyebrows within Major League Baseball.
"We had an opportunity to operate under the radar," Moorad said. "That door now swings shut."
Baseball has yet to approve the proposed general partnership of Moorad. He plans to invest at least $30 million into a franchise that owes more than $150 million in deferred payments and $130 million in stadium debt.
Moorad's status "would be forthcoming," Kendrick said. Hereiterated that deferred payments no longer would be a part of contracts.
Ortiz, a Gilbert resident who won 15 games for Atlanta last season, has never missed a start because of injury.
"I want to be a part of what they're trying to accomplish," Ortiz said.
"Especially seeing they signed Troy (Glaus) really helped because they were serious about what they were trying to accomplish, " added Ortiz, who was congratulated by Atlanta GM John Schuerholz and Dusty Baker, who managed Ortiz in San Francisco from 1998-2002.
Ortiz will receive a $3.5 million bonus spread out through four years. He will receive salaries of $6.5 million, $7 million, $7.5 million and $8.5 million.
Mark Gonzales
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 11, 2004 12:00 AM
ANAHEIM - The Diamondbacks, flush with new investment, signed pitcher Russ Ortiz to a four-year, $33 million contract, giving Ken Kendrick a chance to explain how the formerly financially challenged club could commit $78 million in two days.
"We'll be as responsible financially as competitive on the field," Kendrick, a general partner in the club, said Friday.
Not only do the Diamondbacks say they have the money to afford third baseman Troy Glaus, who agreed to a deal this week, and Ortiz, but they may have room to sign free agents Royce Clayton and Craig Counsell to shore up their defense, as well as former fan favorite David Dellucci as a right fielder.
The funding comes in the form of $260 million in capital over a 10-year period - $160 million raised from the team's four general partners - Kendrick, Dale Jensen, Mike Chipman and Jeffrey Royer - and $100 million from community investors.
Counsell would play second and Clayton shortstop on the Diamondbacks' preferred list. General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said Dellucci was pondering the Diamondbacks' offer, believed to be two years and $2 million.
Agent Gregg Clifton was seeking incentives that could push the deal to $2.5 million and met with Garagiola.
The signings of Glaus and Ortiz, 30, who has won at least 14 games and pitched at least 195 innings in each of his past six seasons, mean the Diamondbacks have earmarked $41.465 million to five players for 2005.
That total includes left-handed ace Randy Johnson, whose agent still would like to see his client pitch elsewhere.
"Randy has a very positive outlook - he just feels determined he needs to be elsewhere," agent Alan Nero said.
Nero said he was well aware of the Diamondbacks' signings and said he and fellow agent Barry Meister, who also represents Counsell, are scheduled to meet with the Diamondbacks' management team tonight.
Kendrick and CEO-elect Jeff Moorad said they were sensitive to Johnson's wishes but didn't rule out the possibility of exploring an extension with the five-time Cy Young Award winner.
The signings of Glaus and Ortiz stunned the national baseball audience at the winter meetings and raised eyebrows within Major League Baseball.
"We had an opportunity to operate under the radar," Moorad said. "That door now swings shut."
Baseball has yet to approve the proposed general partnership of Moorad. He plans to invest at least $30 million into a franchise that owes more than $150 million in deferred payments and $130 million in stadium debt.
Moorad's status "would be forthcoming," Kendrick said. Hereiterated that deferred payments no longer would be a part of contracts.
Ortiz, a Gilbert resident who won 15 games for Atlanta last season, has never missed a start because of injury.
"I want to be a part of what they're trying to accomplish," Ortiz said.
"Especially seeing they signed Troy (Glaus) really helped because they were serious about what they were trying to accomplish, " added Ortiz, who was congratulated by Atlanta GM John Schuerholz and Dusty Baker, who managed Ortiz in San Francisco from 1998-2002.
Ortiz will receive a $3.5 million bonus spread out through four years. He will receive salaries of $6.5 million, $7 million, $7.5 million and $8.5 million.
