Belle Rings Up Cash Register

Talented yet volatile slugger Albert Belle became baseball’s first $10-million man when he agreed to a five-year deal with the Chicago White Sox, baseball sources said Monday.

The White Sox would neither confirm nor deny that Belle will be given a five-year, $50-million deal.

“I don’t comment on rumors,” White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said.

Ironically, Reinsdorf was the leader of a group of owners who voted down a labor agreement between players and management two weeks ago because of concerns over the financial future of the game. Because the deal was defeated, Reinsdorf won’t have to pay a luxury tax scheduled to begin in 1997.

Belle’s agent, Arn Tellem, did not return phone calls Monday. Tellem reportedly was in Miami to speak with Florida Marlin owner Wayne Huizenga, who had hoped to outbid Reinsdorf.

Last week, Tellem threatened to bring an “NBA approach” to future talks between his client and major league clubs.

“I’ve said all along, we’re not going to take less money than Albert is worth,” Tellem said last week.

No player in baseball history has ever made $10 million a season. New York Yankee first baseman Cecil Fielder earned $9,237,500 last season, tops in the majors.

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants had the highest salary in the National League in 1996 at $8,416,667.

As if expecting to lose Belle, Cleveland General Manager John Hart traded three players to San Francisco for slugging third baseman Matt Williams last week.

Talks between Belle and the Indians, who had hoped to re-sign the left fielder to a five-year deal worth about $40 million, broke off over the weekend. Belle earned $5.56 million last season.

The Marlins reportedly offered a four-year deal worth $38 million on Friday, the first day teams could speak to free agents.

Belle hit 30 or more homers with 100 or more runs batted in for the fifth consecutive season in 1996.

He batted .311 with 48 home runs and 148 runs batted in, led the Indians to their second consecutive American League Central Division title and finished third in voting for the most-valuable-player award.

He hit 50 homers in the strike-shortened, 144-game 1995 season and helped the Indians reach the World Series for the first time since 1954.

The addition of Belle gives the White Sox perhaps the strongest middle of the order in the majors. Belle joins first baseman Frank Thomas, who hit .349 with 40 homers and 134 RBIs last season, and third baseman Robin Ventura, who batted .287 with 34 homers and 105 RBIs.

It also helps the White Sox level the field against the Indians. Last season, Cleveland finished 14 1/2 games ahead of runner-up Chicago.

Perhaps the only thing keeping Belle from becoming the game’s top star in the 1990s has been Belle.

He has had a number of fits of temper during his career.

He was fined $50,000 for directing an obscenity-laced tirade at NBC reporter Hannah Storm during the 1995 World Series and was fined an undisclosed amount for allegedly throwing a baseball at a magazine photographer last spring.

And midway through last season, he was suspended for five games for decking Milwaukee second baseman Fernando Vina with his forearm while breaking up a double play. The suspension was later cut to three games.

Belle also has had run-ins with fans. He once was suspended after throwing a ball at a fan. On Halloween 1995, he chased trick-or-treaters away from his home, saying they were throwing eggs.

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Top Salaries

BASEBALL SALARIES

The 1996 salaries for the major league baseball players who made an average of $5 million or more with the exception of Albert Belle who agreed to a new contract Monday. Figures were obtained by the Associated Press from management and player sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. For some players, parts of salaries deferred without interest are discounted to reflect present-day values:

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Player Team Salary Albert Belle* Chicago White Sox $10,000,000 Cecil Fielder New York Yankees $9,237,500 Barry Bonds San Francisco $8,416,667 Ken Griffey Seattle $7,500,000 Frank Thomas Chicago White Sox $7,150,000 Juan Gonzalez Texas $7,100,000 Mark McGwire Oakland $7,000,000 Cal Ripken Jr. Baltimore $6,877,521 Matt Williams* Cleveland $6,550,000 Joe Carter Toronto $6,500,000 Greg Maddux Atlanta $6,500,000 John Olerud Toronto $6,500,000 Lenny Dykstra Philadelphia $6,200,000 David Justice Atlanta $6,200,000 Ruben Sierra* Cincinnati $6,200,000 Jose Rijo Cincinnati $6,150,000 Gary Sheffield Florida $6,100,000 Randy Johnson Seattle $6,025,000 Robin Ventura Chicago White Sox $5,975,000 Will Clark Texas $5,838,450 Bret Saberhagen Colorado $5,612,990 Barry Larkin Cincinnati $5,600,000 Greg Vaughn San Diego $5,525,000 Gregg Jefferies Philadelphia $5,500,000 Roger Clemens Boston $5,500,000 John Smoltz Atlanta $5,500,000 Rafael Palmeiro Baltimore $5,406,603 Mo Vaughn Boston $5,350,000 Danny Tartabull Chicago White Sox $5,300,000 Paul O’Neill New York Yankees $5,300,000 Tom Glavine Atlanta $5,250,000 Kevin Appier Kansas City $5,051,250 Travis Fryman Detroit $5,150,000 Bobby Bonilla Baltimore $5,100,000 Doug Drabek Houston $5,050,000 Mark Langston Angels $5,000,000 Wally Joyner San Diego $5,000,000 Kenny Rogers New York Yankees $5,000,000

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* Changed teams since end of 1996 season.