NEW YORK (AP) -Nick Markakis reached a preliminary agreement on a $66 million, six-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, and Ryan Madson struck a $12 million, three-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies as players and teams rushed Monday to settle salary arbitration cases.
A day before the scheduled exchange of proposed figures, teams announced contracts for 12 players and five more reached deals that weren’t publicly confirmed by the clubs.
Of the 111 players who filed for arbitration last Thursday, 21 had agreed to contracts by Monday evening. A few dozen more were expected to reach agreements before Tuesday’s swap.
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Markakis’ deal, the second-richest in team history, covers three years he would have been eligible for arbitration and the first three after he would have been eligible for free agency. Markakis hit a career-high .306 with 20 homers and 87 RBIs for the Orioles last season, his third in the majors. He played in 157 games, drew 99 walks and led AL outfielders with 17 assists.
The only bigger deal for the Orioles was the $72 million, six-year contract shortstop Miguel Tejada signed before the 2003 season.
Madson was 4-2 with a 3.05 ERA in 76 games in 2008. The right-hander played a key role in a strong bullpen, helping the Phillies win their first World Series championship since 1980. Madson finished the season as the primary setup man for closer Brad Lidge, who was 48-for-48 in save chances, including the postseason.
The deal calls for Madson to receive a $1 million signing bonus, $2 million this season, $4.5 million in 2010 and $4.5 million in 2011. He would have been eligible for free agency after next season, and the deal is unusual because many of agent Scott Boras’ clients opt to become free agents before agreeing to long-term contracts.
s ($4.2 million) and Mike Gonzalez of Atlanta ($3.45 million). Street’s deal was not immediately announced.
Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez agreed to a $3.8 million, one-year contract. Hernandez made $540,000 last year, when the 22-year-old right-hander went 9-11 with a 3.45 ERA and 175 strikeouts.
St. Louis announced deals with right-hander Todd Wellemeyer ($4.05 million) and outfielder Chris Duncan ($825,000), and the New York Mets reached agreements with reliever Duaner Sanchez ($1,687,500) and outfielder Jeremy Reed ($925,000).
The Los Angeles Angels agreed with catcher Mike Napoli ($2 million), Toronto with right-hander Brandon League ($640,000), Houston with catcher Humberto Quintero ($610,000) and the Los Angeles Dodgers with outfielder Jason Repko ($500,000).
Unannounced agreements included deals for Rockies left-hander Jorge de la Rosa ($2 million) and Kansas City left-hander Jimmy Gobble ($1.35 million).
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