Bonds agrees to 5-year deal

The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants agreed Monday night to a $90 million, five-year contract.

Bonds, who set baseball's season home-run record by hitting 73 last season, will receive a $10 million signing bonus to be paid through April 2004. He gets salaries of $13 million in each of the next two seasons, $16 million in 2004, $20 million in 2005 and $18 million in 2006.

The average annual value of $18 million ties bonds with Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs for the fourth-highest in baseball, trailing only Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million), Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez ($20 million) and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter ($18.9 million).

Bonds, the first player to win four Most Valuable Player awards, became a free agent after the season but the Giants were the only team to acknowledge making an offer for the 37-year-old outfielder. He accepted the team's offer of salary arbitration on Dec. 20, and the sides were set to exchange proposed salaries Friday for a one-year contract.

Bonds had one of the greatest seasons in baseball history, breaking previous record of 70 homers, set by Mark McGwire three years ago. Bonds also had an .863 slugging percentage and 177 walks, breaking season marks set by Babe Ruth.

Teams were wary of a long-term deal because of his age and lack of success in the postseason, where he has a .196 average (19-for-97) with one homer and six RBIs.