LOCKING UP THE FUTURE

By signing key young players to long-term contracts, Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi provides security for the players and saves money for the team.

By eliminating the possibility of salary arbitration, players need not hear the Angels point out their weaknesses and the Angels need not risk a budget-busting loss in arbitration. The Angels also develop a core group of players for fans to follow.

Major league salaries tend to be based on comparable statistics and years of experience. The Angels’ savings are impressive, as the chart below shows:

Angel Player (service time): Tim Salmon (6 years, 45 days)

1997 statistics: .296, 33 HR, 129 RBI

1998 statistics: .300. 26 HR, 88 RBI

1999 salary: $5.5 million

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Comparable player (service time): Dodgers’ Raul Mondesi (5 years, 55 days)

1997 statistics: .310, 30 HR, 87 RBI

1998 statistics: .279, 30 HR, 90 RBI

1999 salary: $9 million

Angel savings: $3.5 million

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Angel Player (service time): Gary DiSarcina (7 years, 94 days)

1997 statistics: .246, 4 HR, 47 RBI

1998 statistics: .287, 3 HR, 56 RBI

1999 salary: $3.125 million

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Comparable player (service time): Texas’ Royce Clayton (6 years, 141 days)

1997 statistics: .266, 9 HR, 61 RBI

1998 statistics: .251, 9 HR, 53 RBI

1999 salary: $4.5 million

Angel savings: $1.375 million

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Angel Player (service time): Jim Edmonds (5 years, 27 days)

1997 statistics: .291, 26 HR, 80 RBI

1998 statistics: .307, 25 HR, 91 RBI

1999 salary: $3.55 million

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Comparable player (service time): Atlanta’s Ryan Klesko (5 years, 78 days)

1997 statistics: .261, 24 HR, 84 RBI

1998 statistics: .274, 18 HR, 70 RBI

1999 salary: $4.75 million

Angel savings: $1.2 million

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Angel Player (service time): Troy Percival (4 years, 0 days)

1997 statistics: 3.46, 27 saves

1998 statistics: 3.65, 42 saves

1999 salary: $1.575 million

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Comparable player (service time): Oakland’s Billy Taylor (4 years, 156 days)

1997 statistics: 3.82, 23 saves

1998 statistics: 3.58, 33 saves

1999 salary: $2.5 million

Angel savings: $925,000

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Angel Player (service time): Garrett Anderson (4 years, 49 days)

1997 statistics: .303, 8 HR, 92 RBI

1998 statistics: .294, 15 HR, 79 RBI

1999 salary: $2.1 million

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Comparable player (service time): Minnesota’s Marty Cordova (4 years, 0 days)

1997 statistics: .246, 15 HR, 51 RBI

1998 statistics: .253, 10 HR, 69 RBI

1999 salary: $3 million

Angel savings: $900,000

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Angel Player (service time): Darin Erstad (2 years, 77 days)

1997 statistics: .299, 16 HR, 77 RBI

1998 statistics: .296, 19 HR, 82 RBI

1999 salary: $800,000

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Comparable player (service time): Minnesota’s Matt Lawton (2 years, 169 days)

1997 statistics: .248, 14 HR, 60 RBI

1998 statistics: .278, 21 HR, 77 RBI

1999 salary: $1.7 million

Angel savings: $900,000

TOTAL SAVINGS: $8.8 MILLION