Gonzalez Agrees to $30.7-Million Contract

Outfielder Juan Gonzalez, who at times complained about his $525,000 salary last season, moved into the top 10 on baseball’s money list Friday when he agreed to a $30.7-million, five-year contract with the Texas Rangers.

Gonzalez’s package could be worth as much as $45.45 million over seven years if the Rangers exercise options for 1999 and 2000.

“This kid is going to be in the Hall of Fame, and if anybody is worthy of it, he is,” club President Tom Schieffer said.

Gonzalez, 24, who hit 46 home runs last season, will get a $2-million signing bonus, salaries of $3 million this year, $5 million in 1995, $6.7 million in ’96 and $7 million in the ’97 and ’98 seasons. The club options call for $7.25 million in ’99 and $7.5 million in 2000.

If the options are exercised, the deal would surpass Barry Bonds’ $43.75-million, six-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, currently the largest package in baseball.

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Right-hander Omar Olivares agreed to a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals worth $762,500, more than four times his $190,000 salary in 1993.

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The Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year contract with Kirk Gibson. The 36-year-old outfielder, who hit .261 in 116 games with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs, will be used primarily as a designated hitter.

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One day after the Atlanta Braves’ Ron Gant broke his leg in a dirt-bike accident, doctors said it will be at least three months before he can play again. Rookie Tony Tarasco, newcomer Dave Gallagher and Ryan Klesko will be competing to open the season in left field.

College Basketball

Three Michigan basketball players, including starters Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, were suspended indefinitely because they violated a team policy.

King and Jackson reportedly were to be interviewed by police as part of an investigation into the alleged shoplifting of beer from a convenience store on Jan. 12. Chris Fields was the third suspended player. No charges have been filed.

The players will miss today’s game against Michigan State. Coach Steve Fisher said the suspensions will be re-evaluated next week.

Track and Field

Greg Foster, who announced that 1993 would be his final year as a hurdler but decided to come back this year after a disappointing season, won the 60-meter hurdles at the Millrose Games at New York. It was his 10th Millrose triumph, the most by any track athlete in the meet’s 87-year history. The winning time of 7.61 seconds was .04 seconds faster than Foster had run last year in winning his ninth Millrose title. Jack Pierce finished second in 7.67.

Gail Devers won her second consecutive Millrose title in the 60-meter dash in 7.0, breaking the Millrose record of 7.14 set by Carlette Guidry in 1991 and equaled by Guidry in 1992.

In the women’s 60 hurdles, Michelle Freeman of Jamaica beat American indoor record-holder Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 7.90, matching the Garden record that Freeman set last year.

Niall Bruton won the Wanamaker Mile, beating fellow Irishman Marcus O’Sullivan in 3:58.71.

Merlene Ottey of Jamaica set a women’s world indoor record in the 50-meter dash with a time of 6.0 seconds in an international meet at Moscow.

Miscellany

Former Florida football coach Charley Pell, ousted after an NCAA investigation nearly a decade ago, is suffering from depression but should recover from the mood that led him to try to kill himself Wednesday, his doctor said.

“We are dealing with a medical problem, and I feel very optimistic,” said Carl S. Burak, a psychiatrist at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

Pell, 52, attempted suicide by running a hose from his car’s exhaust pipe through the passenger window.

Names in the News

The U.S. Olympic hockey team lost to Sweden’s “B” team, 3-0, at Rouen, France, despite 41 saves by goalie Mike Dunham. . . . Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull was fined $746 and had his driver’s license suspended for a year after being convicted of drunk driving in connection with an accident July 21 about 100 miles north of Toronto.