MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Marlins, making yet another
long-term commitment to their future, agreed with center fielder
Preston Wilson on a $32 million, five-year contract Sunday.
Wilson earned $287,000 last season when he set a team record
with 121 RBI. He also became the first 30-30 player in club
history, hitting 31 home runs and stealing 36 bases.
"I was surprised they went five years. I think it's a strong
statement about which way the organization is going," Wilson said
after exiting Sunday's exhibition game against Atlanta.
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OPS leaders, center fielders
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Among regular center fielders last years, here are the best totals for on-base percentage + slugging percentage: |
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Player
|
OPS
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Richard Hidalgo, Hou.
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1.028
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Brian Giles, Pit.
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1.026
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Jim Edmonds, Stl.
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.994
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Carl Everett, Bos.
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.959
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Bernie Williams, NYY
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.957
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Ken Griffey Jr., Cin.
|
.942
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Andruw Jones, Atl.
|
.907
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Steve Finley, Ari.
|
.904
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Johnny Damon, KC
|
.877
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Garret Anderson, Ana.
|
.827
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Preston Wilson, Fla.
|
.817
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Mike Cameron, Sea.
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.813
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"I'm happy here, and I like the idea of knowing where I'm going
to be in the future," he said.
The 26-year-old Wilson became the latest Florida player to get a
multiyear deal since the end of last season.
The Marlins, coming off a 79-82 season but featuring a nucleus
of young talent, hope to move into a new, downtown stadium in 2004.
If they win approval to build the ballpark, they plan to continue
increasing their payroll.
"This is the best thing to happen to this organization since
winning the world championship," manager John Boles said.
Free agent catcher Charles Johnson signed $35 million, five-year
deal in the offseason, choosing to return to the team he helped win
the 1997 World Series. Right after that victory, the Marlins were
dismantled in a salary purge.
Closer Antonio Alfonseca, relievers Braden Looper and Vic
Darensbourg and third baseman Mike Lowell also signed multiyear
deals.
"I think the Marlins are getting close to doing what they want
to," said Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz, who started Sunday's game.
"They had a real good team a few years ago and then dropped
that bomb and exploded it," he said.
Wilson was drafted in the first round by the New York Mets in
1992 and traded to Florida as part of a package for Mike Piazza on
May 22, 1998.
"Preston is a special talent and one of the best athletes in
the major leagues," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "He is
one of the cornerstones of our club."
While Wilson broke Gary Sheffield's team record of 120 RBI set
in 1996, he wants to work on making contact more often.
Wilson batted .264 and led the majors with 187 strikeouts, two
short of Bobby Bonds' big league mark set in 1970. Late in the
season, Boles said he would take Wilson out of the lineup, if
necessary, so that he would not break Bonds' mark.
On Sunday, Wilson went 0-for-3 and twice struck out looking. He
is 7-for-20 this spring with four strikeouts.
Wilson would have been eligible for salary arbitration at the
end of this season. Instead, he chose to take financial security
and preserve his good relationship with the Marlins.
"I didn't want to go through arbitration and all the negativity
that comes with it," he said.
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