Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners are working on a $175 million, seven-year contract that would make him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball, according to a person with knowledge of the deal's details.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been completed. USA Today first reported the deal.Seattle would add $134.5 million of guaranteed money over five years to the contract of the 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner, whose current agreement calls for him to receive $40.5 million over the next two seasons.Hernandez's total dollars would top CC Sabathia's original $161 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees and his $25 million average would surpass Zack Greinke's $24.5 million under his new contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.Hernandez's new money would average $26.9 million over five years, which would tie him for the second-highest average in baseball with Josh Hamilton and Ryan Howard behind Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million).Securing Hernandez long-term won't solve all of the problems that have left Seattle looking up at Texas, Oakland and the Los Angeles Angles in the AL West for most of the last 10 years.The Mariners have tried to address some of those issues this off-season by trading for Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse to provide more punch to go along with young prospects Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager and Jesus Montero, who have all shown flashes early in their careers.Briefs Giants: Sergio Romo's new contract can increase from $9 million to $10.2 million if he closes regularly. Romo's two-year deal, announced Wednesday, calls for salaries of $3.5 million this season and $5.5 million in 2014. Indians: Infielder Mike Aviles agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract that includes a club option for 2015. Aviles, acquired from Toronto in November, projects to give the Indians depth at second base, shortstop and the outfield. Rockies: A police report said first baseman Todd Helton told an officer he had red wine hours before he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Helton is due in court May 20 on charges of DUI and careless driving. He was arrested early Wednesday at a gas station in the Denver suburb of Thornton, where he lives. Union: Baseball union head Michael Weiner said it would be unfair to make judgments about players and agents before evidence is sorted out in the sport's latest drug investigation. Alex Rodriguez, Gio Gonzalez, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon and Nelson Cruz of Texas were among those implicated last week by the alternative weekly Miami New Times, which published documents it alleged showed they received performance-enhancing substances from a Florida anti-aging clinic.
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