MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins, facing an uncertain
future, locked up another promising player for the long term
Wednesday by signing pitcher Joe Mays to a four-year contract worth
$20 million.
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| 2001 SEASON STATISTICS |
| GM |
W-L |
IP |
H |
K |
ERA |
| 34 |
17-13 |
233.2 |
205 |
123 |
3.16 |
|
|
"I'm ecstatic," said Mays, who had a breakthrough season in
2001 -- going 17-13 with a 3.16 ERA.
Mays, one of 90 major leaguers who filed for salary arbitration
on Tuesday, will make $2.35 million this season, $4.15 million in
2003, $5.75 million in 2004 and $7.25 million in 2005.
The Twins hold an option for 2006, ranging from $8.5 million to
$9.75 million -- depending on the number of innings pitched. The
2006 contract also contains a buyout clause of $500,000.
Baseball has chosen to eliminate two teams before 2002, and the
Twins are believed to be one of the targets. But players begin
reporting to spring training in a month, so time is running out.
The signing of Mays is another indication the Twins, who
finished a surprising 85-77 and in second place in the AL Central
last year, are preparing to play this season.
Mays, speaking from his home in Sarasota, Fla., was too excited
about his contract and the Twins' potential to even mention the
word "contraction."
"We had a fun run last year," Mays said. "I hope to be able
to finish what we started."
Mays, whose struggles in 2000 earned him a demotion to Triple-A
Salt Lake, worked closely with Salt Lake pitching coach Rick
Anderson that year and credits that time in the minors for his
impressive turnaround in 2001. Anderson is now the Twins' pitching
coach under new manager Ron Gardenhire.
"It made me realize what I had up in the big leagues," Mays
said. "I just had to screw my head on right."
Most of the players who filed for arbitration will agree to
contracts before hearings. Center fielder Torii Hunter, designated
hitter David Oritz and left-handed reliever Travis Miller were the
other Twins who filed.
Players and teams will exchange proposed salaries for one-year
contracts on Friday. Unless the sides settle, the cases will be
heard by three-person panels of arbitrators from Feb. 4-21 in
Tampa, Fla.
The Twins have formed a promising young nucleus with several
signings over the past year-and-a-half. Mays is the third starting
pitcher Minnesota has signed to a multiyear deal. Brad Radke and
Eric Milton are under contract through 2004.
"I'm glad to be a Minnesota Twin for the next four years,"
Mays said. "The youth and potential of this team is so exciting."
General manager Terry Ryan was traveling Tuesday afternoon and
not immediately available for comment. In a statement issued
through the team, Ryan said the team was pleased to be able to get
Mays' deal done.
"With our top three starters, we have certainty in our starting
rotation for now and years to come," Ryan said.
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