Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest-paid player in Dodgers history

Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest-paid player in Dodgers history when he signs a five-year, seven-million dollar contract to play in Los Angeles.

 

 

On February 20, 1984 – Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest-paid player in Dodgers history when he signs a five-year, seven-million dollar contract to play in Los Angeles. He will hit .318 over his 5 years and finish 3rd in MVP Voting in 1985.

Pedro Guerrero has become the richest Dodger of them all

The Los Angeles third baseman was scheduled for an arbitration hearing Monday morning. By that time, however, he had already signed a five-year contract with the team. According to Dodgers’ Vice President A1 Campanis. the deal agreed to by Guerrero and the team late Sunday night is the richest in club histo­ry

“I didn’t want to go to arbitration,” said Guer­rero, speaking from Los Angeles in a telephone conference call. “I’m happy with the contract.” Terms weren’t announced by the Dodgers, but Guerrero blurted out the figure $7 million in the conference call. In the arbitration case, the 27-year-old Guerrero was seeking $1.2 million for a one-year contract. The Dodgers’ offer was $900,000. The deal calls for more than the $1 million per year that LA. pitcher Fernando Valenzuela was awarded in 1983 in the richest arbitration settle­ment ever in baseball. “Pedro has proven he is one of the young superstars of our game,” Campanis said. “He has the potential to become a triple-crown winner and MVP, and I’m sure he’ll own several Dodger offen­sive marks before he retires.”

Guerrero moved from right field to third base in 1983 He responded with 32 home runs. 103 runs batted in, and a 298 batting average He became the first Dodger in history to hit 30 homers and steal 20 bases in 1982. and he dupli­cated the feat in 1983 with his 32 homers and 23 stolen bases. He also became the first Los Angeles Dodger to hit 30 or more homers in two successive seasons. Duke Snider. Roy Campanella and Gil Hodges ac­complished the feat in Brooklyn. Guerrero went to arbitration last year. He was asking for $750,000, the Dodgers were offering $600,000. Guerrero lost and was furious.

“His mind is at ease now,” Campanis said. “With this contract, he has serenity.*’ The two sides had been trying to work out a long-term contract for several weeks. On Sunday. Dodger attorney Bob Walker telephoned Guer­rero’s agent. Tony Attanasio. in San Diego and the negotiations resumed. They reached an agreement in principle late Sun­day night and the signing took place early Monday morning.

Guerrero and his wife. Denise flew to Los Ange­les from their home in the Dominican Republic, then returned to their home immediately after signing the new contract.

 

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