Diamondbacks Sign Gonzalez To Three-year Extension

[DbaxJ]

PHOENIX, AZ -- The Arizona Diamondbacks today announced that they have
reached a three-year contract extension with All-Star outfielder Luis
Gonzalez, keeping him in an Arizona uniform through the 2006 season.
Consistent with team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Our business is about commitment, a commitment from the athlete to perform
to the best of his ability and an equal commitment by management to
compensate the athletes accordingly,” said Jerry Colangelo, Diamondbacks’
Managing General Partner. “Since the day that Joe Garagiola acquired Luis
from Detroit, he has not only performed as an All-Star on the field, but
also as an All-Star in our community. I’m elated that we have been able to
reach this agreement that will keep “Gonzo” a valued member of our family
for the next four years.”
“When we acquired Luis prior to the ’99 season, we knew we were getting an
experienced major league outfielder who would provide veteran leadership and
a terrific clubhouse presence,” added Joe Garagiola, Diamondbacks Senior
Vice President/General Manager. “What Gonzo has given us both on and off
the field in the last four years has far exceeded any expectations we may
have had, and I anticipate more of the same over the next four years.”
Gonzalez has batted .316 during his four-year stint with the Diamondbacks,
highlighted by three trips to the All-Star Game. He has hit 142 home runs
in 2,365 at bats with Arizona after hitting 107 roundtrippers in 3,864 at
bats prior to the December 28, 1998, trade for Karim Garcia. He will be
forever remembered for the game-winning RBI single that ended the 2001 World
Series against the New York Yankees.

 

[Stan C]

Now, I hope they give Randy a 2 year extension before the season starts.

 

[Dback Jon]

$30 Million/ 3 Years

Gonzo gets three years, $30 million
Don Ketchum
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 19, 2003 12:00 AM

With all due respect to pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, manager Bob Brenly calls left fielder Luis Gonzalez "the face of the Diamondbacks. He's one of the most respected hitters in the (National) league."

Few baseball fans can forget the images of Gonzalez leaping after producing the hit that defeated the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

For his ability to produce in the clutch, his clubhouse leadership and his involvement in the community, the team rewarded Gonzalez, 35, with a three-year contract extension on Tuesday. The $30 million agreement begins with the 2004 season and includes a mutual option for 2007.

Gonzalez, who this season wraps up a four-year, $16.5 million deal signed in 1999, will receive a $250,000 signing bonus, with salaries of $8.25 million in 2004, $10 million in 2005 and $11.5 million in 2006.

The option is for $10 million. Gonzalez and his wife, Christine, will donate $1 million to Arizona charities.

"I'm excited for me and my family," Gonzalez said. "My career turned around here. The fit was perfect."

In his four seasons here, Gonzalez has hit 142 home runs and driven in 470 runs with a .316 average.

After the 1998 season, he came to Arizona in a trade with Detroit for outfielder Karim Garcia. It was one of the most one-sided trades in history.

Now the team's attention turns to an extension for Johnson, who has won the NL Cy Young Award all four of his seasons here.

Both sides hope to complete a deal by Opening Day on March 31.

 

[DWKB]

There is a stat table on the side of the article by Don. I don't know if that was his addition or the editors. It inclued Gonzo's Games, and Triple Crown Stats for the past 3 years and for his career. It got me to thinking about how long it will be until an article like this posted in a major metropolitan area will, if not replace completely, compliment thse stats with OBP/SLG/OPS.

I flipped the paper open and read the AP section discussing the other teams. The SF section mentioned that Bonds had hit his 7th HR of ST and that they actually posted his SLG (1.200+) and OBP (.500) in the blurb. So obviously someone is paying attention in the press.

I wonder why our guys are still behind the curve here and when they will catch up.

 

[Derek in Tucson]

When I was reading this Rob Neyer column on Gonzalez's contract , I couldn't help but think back to this thread where DWKB said; "Well actually if you set aside Gonzo's 2001 season (which was an unexpected fluke) he has performed as expected here because of the extreme parks he played in before he got here and the way BOB is such a hitters park."

Now I think Rob Neyer is a bright enough guy that he'd work in park factors to this article since he seems to be against this contract. Instead, he has nothing but great things to say about Gonzo's time in Arizona by using Win Shares, OBP, and SLG to point out just how much Gonzo has produced with the DBacks. And if you look at his lgOPS over the last 4 years, it is indeed somewhere around 50 points higher than his career lgOPS average until age 30. Really it's remarkable he's been able to elevate his game after age 30 considering the fact that most hitters peak at age 27 or so.

 

[schillingfan]

Weren't the Giants older than the D-Backs last year.

I can't believe Rob Neyer is talking the old junk. The D-Backs have gotten younger this year, and got younger last year and will be even younger next year. So why does he keep talking the old crap just because less than a handful are old.

Barry Bonds is old too. Nobody mentions that about him.

 

[DWKB]

Originally posted by schillingfan
Weren't the Giants older than the D-Backs last year.

Batting, yes
Pitching, no,
Total, no

Originally posted by schillingfan

Barry Bonds is old too. Nobody mentions that about him.

I have to wonder if you read the article written by Rob..

Should we throw out everything we know about the aging patterns of baseball players? After all, Barry Bonds doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects, either.

..because you make unnecessary comments like this.

Originally posted by schillingfan

I can't believe Rob Neyer is talking the old junk. The D-Backs have gotten younger this year, and got younger last year and will be even younger next year. So why does he keep talking the old crap just because less than a handful are old.

I thought we went over this discussion ad infinum and it was resolved that just getting younger doesn't mean squat. That "handful" is the heart of the team. Randy, Curt, Gonzo, and Finley are all on the other side of 35. Hell it seems like right now you might have to add Grace over Overbay (let's hope not) who is supposedly our "getting younger" person.

 

[schillingfan]

Originally posted by DWKB
I thought we went over this discussion ad infinum and it was resolved that just getting younger doesn't mean squat.

Whatever, because of course Rob Neyer is never wrong.

Look back in 2001 the D-Backs were old. They had some hefty contracts that were too long. That's in the past. Okay? They won a World Series, BTW. Since then they have gotten rid of Stottlemyre, Bell, Reynoso, Morgan. After this year they will be rid of Williams and Womack and Swindell. They have kept the most productive old guys (with the exception of Gracie - okay, you want to hang them on one stupid guy?) Randy, Curt, Gonzo are still very productive.

So why is anybody harping on age? Geez, give it up all frigging ready. I wouldn't have signed Grace, but he's one lousy player. By the end of next year they will pretty much have turned the team over excepting Gonzo and Randy and Finley.

They signed Finley to a 2 year deal, Gonzo to 3 and probably Randy to 2 years. These aren't 5 year frigging albatrosses like Matt Williams.

It's old and tired to hear about old.