GAGNE'S CASE IS CLOSED BY DODGERS PITCHER GETS 2-YEAR, $19 MILLION DEAL.Byline: Tony Jackson
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer The Dodgers agreed to terms with closer Eric Gagne on Tuesday, signing him to a two-year contract with a $19 million guarantee and a mutual option for 2007. As a result, Gagne and the Dodgers avoided the often-contentious arbitration process that left the former Cy Young Award winner with a bitter aftertaste aftertaste /af·ter·taste/ (-tast?) a taste continuing after the substance producing it has been removed. af·ter·taste n. last winter. Meanwhile, the club appeared to be closing in on an agreement with right-hander Brad Penny Bradley Wayne Penny[1] (born May 24, 1978 in Blackwell, Oklahoma)[2] is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.[3] Early career , possibly for one year. If a deal gets done, the Dodgers would avoid an arbitration hearing with all of their players this offseason. The Dodgers and Penny filed arbitration figures before Tuesday's deadline. Penny filed at $5.7 million, with the club filing at $4.7 million, but that appears to be a mere formality. ``I think we're fairly close,'' Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta Paul DePodesta (born December 16, 1972) is baseball front-office assistant for the San Diego Padres. He has also served as general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from February 16, 2004 to October 29, 2005. said. ``We continued to talk all the way through (Tuesday) morning but got to a point where both sides figured we might as well just file. But this is a situation where I think both sides are very adamant that this ought not go to a hearing room.'' Penny's agent, Greg Genske Gregory B. Genske is a player agent that became the lead agent of LS Legacy Sports Group after Jeff Moorad’s departure Jeff Moorad when Jeff had to give up his representation so he could become the CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks. , did not return repeated calls from the Daily News. The Dodgers also signed left-handed reliever Mike Venafro Michael Robert Venafro (born August 2, 1973 in Takoma Park, Maryland) is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He is an alumnus of James Madison University. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round of the 1995 MLB amateur draft, Venafro would make his Major to a minor- league contract last week and invited him to big-league spring training. Venafro, who will get a $535,000 salary if he makes the club, made 17 appearances for the Dodgers after being acquired from Kansas City Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). on Aug. 10, posting a 4.00 ERA. Players with between three and five years of major-league service time are eligible for arbitration, and those players and their clubs go to great lengths to avoid going to actual arbitration hearings. In those hearings, a three-person panel must choose either the club's figure or the player's, with no leeway lee·way n. 1. The drift of a ship or an aircraft to leeward of the course being steered. 2. A margin of freedom or variation, as of activity, time, or expenditure; latitude. See Synonyms at room. for choosing a compromise figure. In arguing their case against the player, club officials routinely pound away at that player's negatives. Negatives were tough to find last winter in Gagne's case. He converted all 55 of his save opportunities in 2003 and captured the National League Cy Young Award, a rare honor for a reliever. But that case went to a hearing, and the Dodgers somehow won, paying Gagne $5 million in 2004 instead of the $8 million he and his agent, Scott Boras Scott Boras (b. November 2, 1952 in California) is a sports agent for professional baseball players. He is the president of Scott Boras Corporation, which holds its headquarters in Newport Beach, California. , were seeking. Boras Bo·rås A city of southwest Sweden east of Göteborg. It was founded in 1632. Population: 60,900. said Tuesday it was important for both parties to avoid a repeat hearing after Gagne converted 45 of 47 save opportunities in 2004 and posted a 2.19 ERA. The new deal takes Gagne to free-agent eligibility after 2006 and perhaps even a year beyond it if he and the club agree to exercise the option. Gagne will receive salaries of $8 million in 2005 and $10 million in 2006. If the option is exercised, he will get $12 million in 2007. If the club declines the option, there is a $1 million buyout. If Gagne declines, the buyout is $250,000, increasing to $625,000 if he finishes 50 games in either 2004 or 2005 and to the full $1 million if he finishes 50 both years. Penny had a solid season, going 9-10 with a 3.15 ERA. But he made just three starts after being traded to the Dodgers from Florida, leaving two of them early because of an injury. ``This is not the type of case the system is set up to handle very well,'' DePodesta said. ``I don't think anyone would win in the end.'' DePodesta said he has discussed ``a handful of things'' with Genske on Penny's behalf but that the focus now is on a one-year deal, which isn't surprising considering Penny will be eligible for free agency after next season. Penny made $3.725 million last season and will receive a considerable raise whether he goes to a hearing or not. --Lasorda speaks: Dodgers senior vice president Tommy Lasorda
n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. . Lasorda will emcee a candlelight dinner tonight for 1,200 of the president's donors, then play host to the ``Commanders Dinner'' on Thursday night. Bush and Cheney are scheduled to attend both events. Tony Jackson,(818) 713-3675 tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, who had 45 saves last year, has a new two-year deal. Getty Images Box: MIGHTY SAVIORS |
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