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| Posted By | Discussion Topic: Sosa Signs 4 yr. $72 Million Extension | ||||
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King Shit *board owner* | posted on 03-16-2001 @ 5:53 PM |    | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Feb. 01  | CHICAGO (AP) -- Now Sammy Sosa has even more reason to smile. Sosa and the Cubs announced Friday a contract extension of up to four years. The deal is worth about $72 million, a pair of sources familiar with the negotiations, speaking on the condition they not be identified, told The Associated Press. ``Today is one of the greatest days for me and my family,'' said Sosa, wearing his Cubs jersey and hat and surrounded by his family at a news conference at spring training in Mesa, Ariz. ``I've always said I wanted to finish my career here. Chicago has been great,'' he said. ``When I retire, I'm going to retire with a Chicago Cubs hat.'' Sosa's deal starts with two guaranteed seasons worth about $30 million plus player options for 2004 and 2005 that, if exercised by Sosa, would raise the total to about $72 million. ``It's not for the money,'' Sosa said. ``Whatever it was, I'd still play the same way because I love this game and I love America.'' Sosa's been one of biggest baseball stars since his home run derby with Mark McGwire in 1998, which finally brought baseball out of its post-strike slump. McGwire hit a single-season record 70 homers that year, while Sosa finished with 66. Over the past three years, he's hit 179 homers and batted .305. His 50 homers last season led the majors, and he joined McGwire and Babe Ruth as the only players with more than two 50-homer seasons. ``It's a very happy day for the Chicago Cubs,'' team president and general manager Andy MacPhail said. ``There are precious few guys in the game who have accomplished what Sammy has accomplished. He's extremely important to this franchise.'' Sosa, who is currently in the last year of a $42.5 million, four-year deal, began asking for an extension almost a year ago. When negotiations didn't appear to be getting anywhere early last season, he gave the Cubs a midsummer deadline to either sign him to a long-term contract extension or trade him. The Cubs came close to letting him go, but a deal with the New York Yankees fell through. With the tension over the negotiations affecting his production, Sosa announced after the All-Star break that he wanted to stay in Chicago and would block any trades. Despite the distractions, Sosa ended up with one of his best seasons. He hit a career-high .320 and drove in 138 runs. He also hit 38 doubles and drew 91 walks. Though offseason negotiations got testy at times, the contract extension has been expected since Sosa arrived at spring training Feb. 26. His agents and Cubs president and general manager Andy MacPhail said they were optimistic they could work something out, and hoped it could get done before opening day. Sosa seemed to sense something was coming, too. Moody and sullen last summer when he was the subject of trade talks, he's been downright chipper this spring. ``Now I can go home, sleep relaxed and play baseball,'' Sosa said, smiling. ``My goal now is to win. My goal now is last to first.''  ~Matt/Froy from Jersey Official Protector of Gay Marco & SwampJunk...if he ever decides to post. Also providing total immunity to Fayth | ||||
The sky is blue | posted on 03-16-2001 @ 5:57 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Oct. 00 | ISO REAL!!!!!  See My Sig Pics! If you want to be adopted by me IM me at fezoanda and email me at meguyelvis@hotmail.com Currently I've adopted usofar and Bumpkinhead | ||||
| Opi wan kinobi | posted on 03-16-2001 @ 6:02 PM | | |||
| Hanger-On Registered: Mar. 01 | Damn you Fez u beat me to it! and as far as Sosa goes, hes a fuckwad "these are not the radio hosts you r looking for." AKA:OPlE696 | ||||
| Sgt Krusty | posted on 03-16-2001 @ 7:46 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Oct. 00 | quote: Nice head,Deek! You just love Chicago I guess. Let's play two! [two]. ;-)  Sig by PanterA(tm) Currently under CriticsLoveSnatch's rule. E-Mail Me | ||||
| Calm Your Nut | posted on 03-16-2001 @ 11:12 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Nov. 00 | What a stupid move by sosa what a dickhead. Watching Over "Kwyjibo" | ||||
| SternIsAPussy | posted on 03-16-2001 @ 11:19 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jan. 01 | Man I had enough of Sosa. How the fuck is he going to say it wasn't for the money???? I want to punch that mother fucker. First he is saying how he wants to get out of Chicago, but when they give him a shit load of money, he isn't complaining anymore. Hey BigMac.....take a huge fucking swing with a bat at Sosa's face....now that would be Priceless. | ||||
Displaying 1-6 of 6 messages in this thread. |