Chicago — After putting up some pretty incredible numbers the past three years, Sammy Sosa has the contract extension to match.
Sosa signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs on Friday that extends his contract for up to four years and is worth $72 million.
Chicago's Sammy Sosa, right, sits with team president/GM Andy MacPhail during Friday's news conference in Mesa, Ariz.
"I'm very happy. I always said I wanted to finish my career here and Chicago has been great to me," Sosa said, surrounded by his family at a news conference at the Cubs' spring training camp in Mesa, Ariz.
"When I retire, I'm going to retire with a Chicago Cubs hat to the Hall of Fame."
If Sosa puts up big numbers, he would get $32.75 million over two years and have the chance to negotiate a new contract again.
His deal includes a $6 million signing bonus, $12 million in 2002 and $13 million in 2003. He can either terminate the contract after that season and become a free agent, or exercise player options for $16 million in 2004 and $17 million in 2005.
With an average salary of $18 million a year, Sosa will have the fourth-highest average salary in baseball, trailing only Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million), Manny Ramirez ($20 million) and Derek Jeter ($18.9 million).
However, because none of Sosa's money is deferred, he'll have the second-most lucrative average salary.
"When the player really wants to stay and the club wants him, you find a way to work it out," said Andy MacPhail, the Cubs president and general manager, who negotiated with agents Tom Reich and Adam Katz.
"Absent A-Rod, on an average annual value basis, this is the second-highest contract in baseball, as it should be, based on what Sammy's been able to achieve over his career."
Sosa's been one of biggest baseball stars since his home run derby with Mark McGwire in 1998. McGwire hit a single-season record 70 homers that year, while Sosa finished with 66. He was the NL MVP that year.
Over the past three years, Sosa's hit 179 homers, batted .305 and averaged 146 RBIs.
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