DODGERS UPDATE: KENT SIGNS EXTENSION.Byline: Tony Jackson
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer VERO BEACH Vero Beach (vēr`o), city (1990 pop. 17,350), seat of Indian River co., E Fla., on Indian River (a lagoon and part of the Intracoastal Waterway); founded c.1888, inc. 1919. , Fla. - Dodgers second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Jeff Kent Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968 in Bellflower, California) is a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and a former MVP winner. Early career laid to rest any question as of whether he would retire after the season, signing a one-year contract extension Wednesday with a club option for 2008. The option will become automatic if Kent stays relatively healthy, meaning Kent and newly signed shortstop Rafael Furcal Rafael Antoni Furcal[1] (born August 24, 1977 in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic),[2] nicknamed "Fookie", is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. should anchor the middle of the Dodgers infield for at least the next three seasons. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed to carry an $11.5 million guarantee, including a $2 million signing bonus A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee by a company as an incentive to join that company. These are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive to the employee e.g. if the annual salary is lower than they desire. and a base salary for next season of $9 million. The contract also is tied into his 2006 performance. He will earn an additional $250,000 for each of 500, 525 and 550 plate appearances this season. The club option is for $7 million, with a $500,000 buyout. But if Kent has 550 plate appearances in 2007, a reasonable expectation if he can avoid the disabled list in a season when he will be 39, the option will vest at $9 million. Kent, who briefly teared up while talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to the media in a corner of the Dodgers clubhouse, said a well-publicized meeting last winter with owner Frank McCourt
Francis "Frank" McCourt (born August 19, 1930) is an Irish-American teacher and author. in which McCourt eased Kent's concerns about the direction of the franchise was the impetus for his decision to play at least another year. ``This wasn't a money thing,'' Kent said. ``I have enough money. I was fortunate to meet with (McCourt) again (Tuesday) night on a conference call, and I could feel his passion and what he wants to achieve. That convinced me this was the right thing to do.'' The negotiations began almost by accident during a casual dinner conversation shortly after spring training began between agent Jeff Klein and Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. ``It wasn't on the agenda,'' Klein said. ``But if you're dealing with people on the other side who are professional, you have every opportunity to make a deal.'' Kent, a probable Hall of Famer, strongly indicated this will be his last contract. ``I'm 99.9-percent sure,'' he said. ``It's safe to say I'll be proud to retire as a Dodger. I grew up in Southern California, and even though I can't say truthfully I always wanted to play for the Dodgers, I always respected the Dodgers organization more than any other team.'' Tony Jackson,(818) 713-3675 tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: JEFF KENT Box: BEYOND THE BOX SCORE - Tony Jackson |
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