Baseball player agrees to record $68 million, four-year contract

<br>NEW YORK (AP) _ The Toronto Blue Jays and Carlos Delgado agreed Friday to a $68 million, four-year contract that makes him the highest-paid player in baseball. <br><br>Delgado, a 28-year-old first

Friday, October 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ The Toronto Blue Jays and Carlos Delgado agreed Friday to a $68 million, four-year contract that makes him the highest-paid player in baseball.

Delgado, a 28-year-old first baseman, will receive a $4.8 million signing bonus and salaries of $10 million in 2001, $17.2 million in 2002, $17.5 million in 2003 and $18.5 million in 2004.

The deal was confirmed by his agent, David Sloane.

The average salary of $17 million breaks the previous mark of $15.45 million set by Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees earlier this year when they agreed to a two-year extension worth $30.9 million.

Delgado's deal falls short of the record for total dollars, set in December 1998 when Kevin Brown and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a $105 million, seven-year contract.

Delgado hit .344 this season with 41 home runs, 137 runs batted in and 123 walks, finishing fourth in the American League in batting, tied for fourth in home runs and tied for fourth in RBIs.

The Blue Jays hit 244 homers overall, the fourth most in major league history, but the team has not made the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1993.

Delgado's mark is not likely to last long. Seattle Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez is eligible for free agency following the World Series and is expected to get a record deal that could be worth at least $20 million per year.