DODGERS: HENDRICKSON NOW A $3 MILLION MAN.Byline: TONY JACKSON
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer Dodgers left- hander Mark Hendrickson Mark Allan Hendrickson (born June 23, 1974 in Mount Vernon, Washington, U.S.) is an American professional athlete and is one of just 10 athletes to play in both Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association. , who is expected to compete with four others during spring training for the vacant fifth spot in the club's starting rotation, avoided arbitration Monday by accepting a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed to carry about a $3 million base salary with bonuses of $50,000 each for 160, 175 and 190 innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is in the game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. , milestones Hendrickson won't reach if he pitches out of the bullpen. The agreement leaves reliever Joe Beimel Joseph Ronald Beimel (born April 19, 1977) is a relief pitcher for the Major League Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers. High school/college years Beimel attended St. Marys Area High School and was a letterman in football, wrestling, basketball, and baseball. as the Dodgers' only pending arbitration case. Major league clubs will officially exchange arbitration figures with their eligible players today, but arbitration hearings won't begin for more than two weeks. Negotiations to avoid hearings will continue in the interim. Hendrickson received a substantial raise from his 2006 salary of $1.95 million, especially for a pitcher who went 6-15, including 2-7 with a 4.68 ERA after the Dodgers acquired him from Tampa Bay Tampa Bay, inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, 25 mi (40 km) long and 7 to 12 mi (11.3–19 km) wide, W Fla., separated from the Gulf by numerous small islands; it receives the Hillsborough River. St. on June 27. But after being demoted to the bullpen in September -- after which he sought the services of Ken Ravizza, the same sports psychologist who had helped him in the past -- Hendrickson posted a 0.84 ERA in 10 appearances. He didn't allow a run in any of his three playoff appearances against the New York Mets
That strong finish gives Hendrickson at least a fighting chance one dependent upon the issue of a struggle. See also: Fighting to beat out Chad Billingsley, Hong-Chih Kuo, Eric Stults and Brett Tomko for the fifth spot. ``(The Dodgers) made it very clear that the fifth spot will be open and that Mark will be (a candidate),'' said Joe Urbon, Hendrickson's New York- based agent. ``He is preparing to be a starter. He has no interest whatsoever in pitching out of the pen.'' Hendrickson, 32, has made only 20 career relief appearances. Although his new contract has no language allowing him to demand a trade if he isn't starting, the Dodgers might try to deal him if he isn't in the rotation rather than keeping him in a role where he isn't happy. Beimel, another lefty, made $425,000 last season while pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, posting a 2.96 ERA. He probably will end up in the $750,000-$800,000 range. tony.jackson@dailynews.com (818) 713-3675 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: HENDRICKSON |
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