Erstad Signs to Four-Year, $7.25-Million Deal

The Angels put a padlock on another one of their young stars Wednesday, signing first baseman Darin Erstad to a four-year, $7.25-million contract.

Erstad, who hit .299 with 16 home runs, 34 doubles, 77 RBIs, 99 runs and a team-leading 23 stolen bases in 1997, his first full season with the Angels, will be guaranteed $500,000 this season, $800,000 in 1999, $2.5 million in 2000 and $3.45 million in 2001. The package includes $500,000 in award incentives.

Erstad is no stranger to million-dollar deals--he received a $1.575-million bonus after being selected first in the 1995 draft--and he reacted to Wednesday’s news as he did in 1995: with little fanfare.

“Honestly, I don’t feel any different now than I did yesterday,” Erstad said. “I don’t play this game for money, that’s for sure. It comes with the territory, and obviously it’s nice to have that security, but it doesn’t weigh heavily on my mind.”

The deal secures the 23-year old through 2001 and buys out two of Erstad’s three arbitration years. The Angels had originally offered a five-year deal plus a one-year option, but Jeff Moorad, Erstad’s attorney, did not want Erstad to lose all three arbitration years.

“It was important for us to. . . . not contract for an unreasonably long period of time, so we’re very pleased with the result,” Moorad said.