Clemens OKs $7.5-Million, 3-Year Pact

NEW YORK — Roger Clemens today agreed to a three-year contract with the Boston Red Sox worth $7.5 million, the highest average annual salary in baseball history, the Associated Press has learned.

Clemens, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, will get a $300,000 signing bonus, $2.2 million this season, $2.5 million in 1990 and $2.5 million in 1991.

Including a prorated share of the signing bonus, Clemens will earn $2.6 million in each of the 1990 and 1991 seasons, which if not surpassed, would become the highest single-season salary ever in baseball. The previous high was Don Mattingly’s $2.5-million 1990 salary from the New York Yankees.

Pitcher Dwight Gooden, who will receive $2,416,667, including a share of his signing bonus, from the New York Mets this year, is the highest-paid player in 1989.

At four years, 142 days of major league service, Clemens reached $2 million faster than any other player in history, beating Minnesota’s Kirby Puckett by five days.

In addition to his salary, Clemens can earn $350,000 per year in bonuses. He would get $100,000 for winning the Cy Young Award and $50,000 for finishing second. He would get $100,000 for winning the American League Most Valuable Player and $50,000 for finishing second or third. He would get $50,000 if he is MVP of the AL playoffs and $100,000 if he is MVP of the World Series.