Delgado Is Biggest Catch for Marlins

Free-agent first baseman Carlos Delgado agreed to a $52-million, four-year contract with the Florida Marlins on Tuesday. The deal, which includes an option year making it potentially worth $64 million over five seasons, is contingent on Delgado’s passing a physical today.

With the addition of Delgado, Florida becomes perhaps the team to beat in the National League East.

“It’s a spectacular day for the franchise,” owner Jeffrey Loria said. “I’m going to spring training tomorrow. I’m not waiting.”

The Marlins won the World Series in 1997 and 2003 but still are seeking their first division title.

They also want to win support for a new ballpark.

“We’re about trying to be a very competitive ballclub, and the stadium will take care of itself in due time,” Loria said. “But Carlos certainly is not going to hurt that effort.”

The Marlins landed the most formidable left-handed power hitter in their 12-season history, and it took the franchise’s richest per-season deal to do it. Florida won out over the New York Mets, Texas and Baltimore.

The Mets also made a $52-million, four-year offer, of which $2 million was the buyout of a fifth-year option.

Delgado receives $4 million this year but makes $13.5 million in 2006, $14.5 million in 2007 and $16 million in 2008. The agreement includes a $16-million option for 2009 that would become guaranteed based on how Delgado does in most-valuable-player voting and whether he earns postseason MVP awards.

If the option year doesn’t become guaranteed, Florida would have the right to exercise a $12-million option. If the option is declined, Delgado would get a $4-million buyout.

Delgado, 32, batted .269 with 32 home runs and 99 runs batted in last season. He hit at least 30 homers each of the last eight seasons, all with Toronto.

He has 336 homers in his career, with a .282 average.

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Kidnappers holding the mother of Detroit Tiger pitcher Ugueth Urbina have demanded a $3-million ransom but have not contacted the family in several weeks, Venezuelan police said.

Ten police detectives in an anti-kidnapping unit are on the case and believe Maura Villarreal, 54, is still being held hostage. Police said the strategy of making no contact was a common ploy used by kidnappers in the South American country.

Urbina’s mother disappeared from her home on the outskirts of Caracas on Sept. 1. Police have said they believed she was taken by four men who arrived wearing police uniforms.

Police also have said they believed a mechanic who happened to be working on a motorcycle at the house was taken away along with Urbina’s mother.

A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it had been difficult for the family to accept police involvement because they feared for Villarreal’s life.

The official confirmed Venezuelan news reports that the amount of the ransom demanded was about $3 million, but he also said the figure had varied over time and that initially the kidnappers had demanded $6 million.

Urbina has declined comment on the case.

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Left-hander C.J. Nitkowski and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a minor league contract.

Nitkowski was 2-1 with a 5.73 earned-run average in 33 innings for the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees last season.