ANGELS SIGN HILL TO 3-YEAR CONTRACT; PITCHER'S DEAL WORTH $16.3 MILLION.Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer The Angels signed starting pitcher Noun 1. starting pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; Ken Hill to a three-year deal worth $16.3 million on Saturday night, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a source close to the team. The right-hander's deal also includes a $6 million vesting option for a fourth year. ``I'm just happy and honored to sign with the Angels,'' said Hill, 31, who made a total of $4.95 million last season. ``I had a couple of teams interested, but the Angels were up front with me from the beginning. My wife (Lorrie) and I thought being in Anaheim was the best move for our family. ``The most important thing is that I want to win. That's important. This team is young and has a future.'' Hill was acquired in a July 29 trade with Texas for catcher Jim Leyritz James Joseph Leyritz (born December 27 1963 in Lakewood, Ohio) is a former catcher and infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees (1990-1996, 1999-2000), with whom he debuted on June 8, 1990. and minor-leaguer Robert Sasser. Hill was 4-4 with a 3.65 ERA with Anaheim last season and had a 1.37 ERA in his last six starts. He will re-join a talented group of starting pitchers in Anaheim, including Chuck Finley Dickson is a graduate of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M University. He plays for the Somerset Patriots and was drafted by the California Angels in the 6th round of the 1994 MLB Amateur and Allen Watson Allen Kenneth Watson (born November 18, 1970 in Jamaica, New York) is a former left-handed starting pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees. . Angels general manager Bill Bavasi said that the club is trying to obtain another quality pitcher and a ``big bat,'' preferably a leadoff hitter. Hill has a no-trade option in '98, a trade option in '99 in which he can select 15 teams to which he can't be traded and a trade option in 2000 in which he can select eight clubs to which he can't be traded. Existing rules say that Anaheim is not required to add Hill to its 15-player protected list for Tuesday's expansion draft. When asked about Hill's big contract, Bavasi said, ``When was the last time you saw a quality starter sign and you said, `Wow, that was cheap?' If it is a quality pitcher and you want to sign him, that is what you've got to do.'' |
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