The Dodgers signed free agent P Kevin Brown to a
"stunning" seven-year, $105M contract on Saturday, the most
lucrative contract in MLB history and the first to top the
$100M figure. Brown, who received a $5M signing bonus, will
get $10M in '99 and $15M a year for the remainder of the
deal. The Dodgers will also provide Brown the use of a
chartered jet 12 times during the season to fly in his
family from their home in GA. The deal also includes a no-
trade clause and Brown's use of a hotel suite when on the
road (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/13). In releasing a
statement on the deal, Dodgers GM Kevin Malone wrote, "The
Dodgers do not take payroll disparity and economic
responsibility lightly. We are sensitive to the financial
concerns of the industry" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/13).
That comment irked MLB Exec VP/Operations Sandy Alderson:
"The written comments you have in your hand [from Malone] is
an affront and an insult to the commissioner of baseball.
To suggest that they remain concerned about the disparity in
baseball and the fiscal risks associated with the industry
is (expletive)" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/13). More
Alderson: "This is not a good baseball deal. This is not a
decision made by a baseball man -- I don't believe" (SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/13). Alderson: "I think it says
more about somebody's prime-time schedule than anything
else" (L.A. TIMES, 12/13). In L.A., Jason Reid wrote the
deal "stirred concern and anger" at Baseball's Winter
Meetings in Nashville. Commissioner Bud Selig, who held an
emergency meeting to discuss payroll disparity on December
3, was asked to comment on the deal, and said, "There is no
appropriate comment I can make" (L.A. TIMES, 12/13).
THE MONSTER THAT IS FOX: Brown's agent Scott Boras said
that News Corp.'s ownership of the Dodgers was one key
reason for the deal. Boras: "The Dodgers' ability to work
and deal with entertainment people was something that opened
doors. ... The one thing the Dodgers did at the forefront
was create a way for an East Coast family to become a West
Coast family" (Baltimore SUN, 12/13). Boras said that Fox
officials came in with an "understanding of wanting to deal
with the concerns of an entertainer" (N.Y. POST, 12/13). As
another perk, Brown "has a standing invitation to all Fox
Studios film premieres" (Garth Woolsey, TORONTO STAR,
12/14). In L.A., Ross Newhan wondered, "Would Fox do this
for Calista Flockhart?" (L.A. TIMES, 12/13).
THE MASTER OF DECEPTION? Dodgers GM Kevin Malone said
that Boras "assured us that there were a couple of other
teams willing to go higher" (TORONTO STAR, 12/13).
WHAT IT MEANS FOR FOX: ESPN's Peter Gammons: "At $105
million, they can't ensure the last two years of the
contract. So if he isn't pitching in the sixth and seventh
years, they just swallow the money. I don't think they care
about that very much. ... They get a lot of glitz out of
this, they get a lot of publicity" ("SportsCenter," 12/13).
BASEBALL REAX: Padres Owner John Moores, who was
willing to go as high as $60M to resign Brown: "It confirms
my worst fears about what would happen if we let (Rupert)
Murdoch buy the Dodgers" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/13).
Padres President Larry Lucchino: "I think it's another sign
that the Apocalypse is upon us. ... It's reached the level,
that as a baseball person, I am embarrassed. ... The inmates
and their agents are running the asylum, and we're not going
to submit to that kind of governance here in San Diego" (SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/13). Lucchino: "I did call some
baseball officials today and left a message, 'We told you
so!'" (Baltimore SUN, 12/13). Blue Jays GM Gord Ash said
the other amenities offered to Brown "tells you [that] money
has gotten to the point where it is meaningless. You need
other things of value" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/13).
Baseball America held a symposium on payroll disparity in
Nashville, and D'Backs Managing General Partner Jerry
Colangelo was a panelist. Colangelo, on some of his team's
controversial signings: "We recognize that disparity is a
problem. But I can't solve that problem. I shouldn't be
looked at alone as the problem" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/14).
REAX: In Montreal, Jack Todd wrote that MLB is "now,
officially, a farce. We are more than two months away from
spring training and 20 teams have already been eliminated
from serious contention for a World Series title" (GAZETTE,
12/13). On CBS SportsLine, Ian Browne: "Why not put an end
to this nonsense now and just eliminate 20 of the 30 teams
before the start of spring training? There really is no
point in all those middle- and small-market teams showing up
anymore" (CBS SportsLine, 12/12). In St. Louis, Bernie
Miklasz wrote that Brown's deal could lead to another labor
dispute when the CBA expires after the 2001 season, and the
deal "may lead baseball to Armageddon" (POST-DISPATCH,
12/13). In Toronto, Richard Griffin: "It's official.
Baseball has lost control of its senses and is intent on
shooting itself in the foot with a bazooka. Plus, they're
treating their fans like they're idiots" (TOR. STAR, 12/13).
MORE BEDLAM: Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker held a news
conference yesterday saying the team would not trade for
Blue Jays P Roger Clemens and meet his demands for a new
three-year deal worth $43.5M, with a fourth-year option
worth $15M. Hunsicker, on the offer by the Clemens' agents,
the Hendricks brothers: "We were shocked; we were just
stunned" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/14). Hunsicker: "What's
happening in this game is sheer lunacy" (Mult., 12/14).
MLB NOTES: MLB's Commissioner's Office will "soon take
over control of umpires from" the AL and NL. MLB sources
said that MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations Sandy Alderson
will "oversee all umpires in the new plan" (CBS SportsLine,
12/12). In Dallas, Ken Daley reports that the 2000 baseball
meetings will be held from December 3-13 in Dallas at the
Anatole Hotel. The '99 Winter Meetings will take place in
Anaheim, CA (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/12).
