Maddux Agrees to One-Year, $14.75-Million Deal

Four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing to the largest one-year contract in baseball history Monday, a $14.75-million deal with the Atlanta Braves.

The previous record for a one-year contract was pitcher David Cone’s $12-million deal with the New York Yankees in 2000.

Maddux became a free agent after winning 16 games last season, but failed to draw much interest in the open market. He accepted the Braves’ offer of arbitration in December, binding him to the team for the 2003 season.

Maddux had asked for $16 million and the Braves countered with an offer of $13.5 million.

Atlanta General Manager John Schuerholz said that Maddux actually made the first move.

“We had always thought that if we were able to get to a midpoint settlement, we would be amenable to that,” Schuerholz said. “His comments to me indicated that he was also going to be amenable to it, too. We continued to discuss it and got it done.

“Because of who we were talking about, his stature on our team and his stature in the game, we felt it was appropriate to try to resolve it at a midpoint settlement.”

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San Francisco closer Robb Nen threw off a mound for the first time since having off-season shoulder surgery.

Nen, who had 43 saves and was an All-Star last season, played long toss with trainer Stan Conte and roving catching instructor Kirt Manwaring. Nen threw 23 pitches off the bullpen mound at Scottsdale Stadium.

“It’s getting there,” the 33-year-old Nen said. “I’m still working. It’s nice to get off the mound and be like an old pitcher. I’ve still got a long ways to go.”

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Pitcher Rich Garces retired after failing to join the Colorado Rockies for the start of spring training.

The agent for the 31-year-old right-hander gave no reason for the decision. Garces spent the last seven seasons with the Boston Red Sox.

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Montreal pitcher Javier Vazquez went to arbitration with the Expos, asking a panel to award him $7.15 million instead of $6 million.

A decision by arbitrators Elisabeth Neumeier, Dan Brent and Matthew Finkin is expected today or Wednesday.