NEW YORK -- Jorge Posada and the New York Yankees finalized their $52.4 million, four-year contract on Thursday, more than two weeks after the All-Star catcher and the team reached a preliminary agreement on the deal.
Posada gets $13.1 million in each of the four seasons, the highest average salary for a catcher. Mike Piazza averaged $13 million under his contract with the New York Mets from 1999-2005 and Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez will make $13 million next season, the option year of his deal.
New York also is working to finalize agreements with third baseman Alex Rodriguez ($275 million for 10 years), closer Mariano Rivera ($45 million for three years) and backup catcher Jose Molina ($4 million for two years).
While Posada will turn 40 in the final season of the contract, the Yankees have said they are not concerned about his age, saying the switch-hitter could be shifted eventually to designated hitter or first base. He hit a team-high .338 last season with 20 homers and 90 RBIs.
Posada, a five-time All-Star, has never been on the disabled list.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Source: ESPN.com
No comments:
Post a Comment