Felix Hernandez and Seattle reached agreement on a contract that is expected to make the Mariners ace the highest-paid pitcher in baseball.
Hernandez's deal is expected to be for $175 million over seven years. Terms of the contract were not released by the team. Hernandez and Zduriencik will hold a news conference in Seattle this afternoon where Hernandez is expected to sign the contract.Seattle will have the three-time All-Star and 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner locked up through the 2019 season.The new contract will encompass the final two years of his current deal that is scheduled to pay Hernandez $40.5 million in 2013 and 2014. He'll receive $134.5 million over the additional five years.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. It ties Hernandez for the second-highest contract in baseball with Josh Hamilton and Ryan Howard behind Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million). Hernandez's new money would average $26.9 million over five years.Briefly Reds: Third baseman Scott Rolen declined the Cincinnati Reds' offer to attend spring training, but stopped short of saying he's ready to retire. The seven-time All-Star informed the team of his decision, when Reds pitchers and catchers reported for the start of camp. Royals: Kansas City has acquired utility player Elliott Johnson from the Tampa Bay Rays as the player to be named in the Dec. 9 trade that sent James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City for top prospects Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi along with two other minor leaguers. Athletics: Oakland and free agent left-hander Hideki Okajima finalized a minor league contract after he passed a physical and immediately got to work.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
