Sosa Signs $42.5-Million Extension

Sammy Sosa became the third-highest paid player in baseball Friday, signing a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs for $42.5 million.

Sosa, who’s earning $5.25 million this season, will get yearly salaries of $7 million in 1998, $8 million in 1999, $10 million in 2000 and $11 million in 2001.

San Francisco’s Barry Bonds leads the game with an annual salary of $11.45 million under the extension he starts next season, followed by Albert Belle of the Chicago White Sox at $11 million under the five-year deal he began this year.

“People always talk about the millions of dollars,” Sosa said. “This is not my type of thing. Money doesn’t mean anything to me. The only reason I’m here is because I play good.”

*

Luis Rosa, a scout for the San Francisco Giants, denied allegations by eight young baseball players in the Dominican Republic that he sexually abused them.

“I have a clean history in baseball,” Rosa said from his home in Puerto Rico. Rosa resigned from the Giants on June 13.

The Giants said they are investigating the charges against Rosa, 51. Major league baseball and the Dominican baseball commission also are investigating.

The players allege that Rosa molested most of the 30 players in a Giant training camp in San Pedro de Macoris. When the eight refused to continue submitting to him, Rosa kicked them out of the camp, the players charged.

*

St. Louis Cardinal outfielder Brian Jordan went back on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore back. The Cardinals recalled outfielder Micah Franklin from triple-A Louisville to take his place.