Jeff Bagwell Stays With Astros

HOUSTON (AP) â€” Jeff Bagwell, the Astros' greatest hitter, agreed Tuesday to an $85 million, five-year contract extension through 2006. <br><br>``It comes down to being a Houston Astro,''

Tuesday, December 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) â€” Jeff Bagwell, the Astros' greatest hitter, agreed Tuesday to an $85 million, five-year contract extension through 2006.

``It comes down to being a Houston Astro,'' Bagwell said. ``I've been here 10 years, and that means something to me.''

The deal, which includes a $7 million buyout of a club option for 2007, averages $17 million, matching Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado for the third-highest in baseball behind Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million) and Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez ($20 million).

Bagwell, 32, gets $6.5 million next year in the final season of his current contract. Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. had called signing Bagwell the team's top priority.

``He's certainly a kind, thoughtful human being whom I call a friend, and someone I really enjoy,'' McLane said after presenting Bagwell's wife, Ericka, a bouquet of flowers.

Bagwell, the 1994 NL Most Valuable Player, holds team records for career home runs (310) and RBIs (1,093) while hitting .305.

Bagwell, a Boston native, said growing up as a Red Sox fan he could names such as Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski with his favorite team, and he wants to leave a similar legacy here.

``Nowadays when you say Houston Astros, you think of (Craig) Biggio and Bagwell, and I'm proud of that,'' Bagwell said. ``I want people to continue to say that. I want to be a Houston Astro the rest of my career and retire, and with the help of the organization they made it an easy decision.''

Bagwell was a minor league third baseman when he arrived in a 1990 trade-deadline deal with the Red Sox, who received veteran reliever Larry Andersen. He quickly was moved to first base, where he has played ever since.

Bagwell hit a career-high 47 homers, drove in 132 runs and scored a club-record 152 times, the most since Lou Gehrig scored 167 in 1936.

Bagwell said moves the Astros have made in the offseason helped fuel his desire to negotiate a long-term contract.

``I think we're all going to have a great time here in Houston,'' Bagwell said. ``And over the next five or six years, we're going to bring a championship to Texas.''

A trade with Detroit brought catcher Brad Ausmus and relievers Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz to the Astros. The team also signed free agent reliever Mike Jackson.

General manager Gerry Hunsicker was upbeat as the Astros try to reverse the fortunes of 2000, when they inaugurated their new downtown stadium with a 72-90 record.

``I truly cannot imagine a more important announcement that gives us reason and hope to get down to Kissimmee,'' Hunsicker said, referring to the team's spring Florida home. ``With Jeff in the fold, we'll accomplish special things together.''