Glaus Is Secure in New Deal

The Angels signed Troy Glaus to a four-year, $22-million contract Tuesday, continuing a strategy of securing young stars to long-term deals and eliminating the possibility of any contentious arbitration hearings between the team and its slugging third baseman.

Glaus, who led the American League with 47 home runs in 2000, would have been eligible for arbitration after this season, but his new deal, which includes a $2-million signing bonus, sets his salary through 2004, when he can become a free agent.

Glaus, 24, will make $750,000 this season, $3.5 million in 2002, $6.75 million in 2003 and $9 million in 2004, a year in which his base salary could increase by as much as $6.75 million depending on how many awards he wins from 2001-2003.

“It’s security, it’s a steppingstone, it’s me making a commitment to the team and them making one to me,” said Glaus, who hit .284 with 120 runs and 102 runs batted in last season. “It’s nice not having to worry about your salary the next few years.”

Glaus and the Angels could not come to terms last season, and General Manager Bill Stoneman renewed Glaus’ contract for $275,000, a process with which Glaus’ representatives were not happy.

When the sides could not agree on a 2001 contract by Friday, the Angels’ self-imposed deadline for signing players but nine days before baseball’s deadline, there was some concern that the Angels might renew Glaus again, setting a foundation of hostility for future negotiations.

But Stoneman and Craig Fenech, Glaus’ agent, continued to talk and hammered out a deal that assures Glaus will never go to arbitration.

“Given that we didn’t come close last year, this went really well,” Fenech said. “Had the Angels [renewed Glaus this season], they would have paid a heck of a lot more in year-to-year deals, and it would have been an unpleasant experience for Troy.”

The Angels were under no obligation to sign Glaus, who has 2 1/2 years of major league experience, to a long-term deal--they hold his rights through 2004.

But making a major financial commitment to Glaus at this age, just like former general manager Bill Bavasi did to Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad and Jim Edmonds, should generate goodwill between Glaus and the Angels and create a better atmosphere for future negotiations.

“Arbitration is a distasteful process, and it’s nice to avoid it,” Stoneman said. “Troy’s 47 home runs last season spoke pretty loudly in this, as did the way he plays defense and carries himself. We think this is a good deal.”

If Glaus continues to establish himself as one of the game’s best power hitters and a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman, he could have probably commanded more in arbitration after the next three seasons.

“But there’s a lot of risk when you go year to year,” Glaus said. “Weird things tend to happen. You could get hurt and your career could be over. This is guaranteed. It gives you a chance to relax and do your job.”

If Glaus does his job extremely well, as the Angels expect he will, he could make a lot more money. His contract includes standard incentives for awards such as most valuable player ($150,000), Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and all-star ($50,000), but there is another interesting incentive package.

Glaus’ 2004 base salary will increase by the following amounts each time he wins, from 2001-2003: MVP ($1.2 million); MVP second place ($500,000); MVP third ($300,000); MVP fourth or fifth ($200,000); All-Star team election ($550,000); All-Star team selection by manager ($150,000); Silver Slugger ($250,000); and Gold Glove ($250,000).

“I think Troy has established himself at a performance level that is probably greater than any player with two-plus years of experience,” Fenech said. “This contract recognizes that while providing a substantial discount over what his year-to-year value is. He traded that for security.”

Angel Notes

Right-hander Ramon Ortiz looked sharp in his second Cactus League appearance, giving up three hits in three scoreless innings, one of the few highlights for the Angels in a 2-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Tucson. The White Sox won the game on Magglio Ordonez’s two-run homer against Elvin Nina in the sixth inning. Scott Spiezio, who is competing with Wally Joyner and Larry Barnes for the first-base job, and reserve outfielder Alex Diaz had two hits each for the Angels.