By Ronald Blum, Associated Press, 07/07/99
NEW YORK - Vladimir Guerrero is getting a $250,000 raise for making the NL All-Star team for the first time. Only he won't see the money for another four years.
That's because the Montreal Expos outfielder has a unique clause in his contract that contains an escalator clause for the final season of the deal in 2003.
As part of the $28 million, five-year contract he signed last Sept. 1, Guerrero gets $1 million this year, $3.5 million next year, $6 million in 2001 and $8 million in 2002. The deal called for a $9.5 million salary in 2003, but states it could go up in $250,000 increments to as much as $11.5 million for various awards and honors.
In addition to the raise, Guerrero was among 43 players receiving bonuses for making the All-Star game, getting an extra $25,000.
Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. got the highest bonus, $125,000. Griffey $50,000 for making the AL team and another $75,000 bonus for finishing first among all major leaguers in fan voting.
Baltimore's Cal Ripken Jr., an All-Star for the 17th consecutive season, and Boston's Jose Offerman each earned $100,000.
As part of the $26 million, four-year contract he signed with the Red Sox during the offseason, Offerman would get a $250,000 if he makes the All-Star team again during the contract and an additional $500,000 if he makes it a third time.
Nineteen players will get $50,000 each, and another 19 will get $25,000 apiece.
Los Angeles outfielder Gary Sheffield receives $20,000 and Chicago White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez gets $15,000.
Eighteen players don't get any bonus money: Paul Byrd, Jeromy Burnitz, Sean Casey, David Cone, Alex Gonzalez, John Jaha, Derek Jeter, Brian Jordan, Barry Larkin, Pedro Martinez, Kevin Millwood, Dave Nilsson, Rafael Palmiero, Mariano Rivera, Jose Rosada, Sammy Sosa, Bernie Williams and Jeff Zimmerman.
Texas outfielder Juan Gonzalez missed out on a $50,000 bonus by saying he wouldn't go to next Tuesday night's game at Boston's Fenway Park unless he was elected to start.
