Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Saturday 21 december 2019
Average MLB salary drops

for 2nd straight year

By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The av-
erage salary in the major
leagues has dropped in
consecutive years for the
first time since the players'
association started keep-
ing records more than a
half-century ago. In this Oct. 7, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers starting
The 988 players on Aug. 31 pitcher Rich Hill throws against the Washington Nationals during
rosters and injured lists aver- the first inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division
Series in Washington.
aged $4,051,490, the union Associated Press
said Friday, down 1.1%
from $4,095,686 last year.
The average peaked at In this Aug. 17, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout Dodgers lefty Rich
$4,097,122 in 2017. drives in two runs with a single against the Chicago White Sox
This was just the fifth de- during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif. Hill is Tony Conigliaro
cline since records started Associated Press
in 1967, when the average Award winner
was $19,000. There also than the $44,196 drop. addition, Troy Tulowitzki and
were drops in 1987, when Those stars all receive huge David Wright retired due to BOSTON (AP) — Los Ange- league in homers, hitting 32
clubs were found guilty of increases for 2020, and injuries, which meant their les Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill in 1965, his second full sea-
collusion; in 1995, after the Gerrit Cole, Stephen Stras- salaries were not included has won the Tony Conigli- son.
end of a 7 1/2-month strike; burg and Anthony Rendon in the average. aro Award. He was hit in the face by
and in 2004. This year's drop agreed to $200 million-plus Major League Baseball The honor goes to a ma- a pitch on Aug. 18, 1967,
followed two slow free- contracts last week. computed its average at jor leaguer "who has over- fracturing his cheekbone,
agent markets and new There also were 20 addi- $3,894,220, down 2.8% from come adversity through dislocating his jaw and
contracts with large signing tional players on injured $4,007,987 last year and the attributes of spirit, de- damaging the retina in his
bonuses for Mike Trout, Alex lists this Aug. 31, causing $3,955,920 in 2017. termination and courage left eye.
Bregman, Manny Macha- more players to be brought The union includes option that were the trademarks He returned after missing
do and A.J. Pollock. Those up from the minor leagues buyouts in its average cal- of Tony C." all of 1968 to play two more
four players received $62 who made at or close to culation, while MLB does Hill, 39, worked his way seasons, but retired due to
million in signing bonuses the $555,000 minimum. not. Figures are based on back three times from an declining vision in 1971.
during 2019 that are prorat- Several players with large the last day before ac- arm and two knee injuries He died in 1982 at the age
ed over the length of each salaries were released and tive rosters expanded from to finish the season with the of 45. The award in his
contract in the calculation then re-signed by other 25 to 40 for the final time. Dodgers, starting Game name has been given out
of the average. If the entire teams for the minimum, Starting in 2020, there will 4 of the NLDS against the by Major League Baseball
amounts had been count- which is then used for the be a 26-player limit from Washington Nationals. since 1990. It will be pre-
ed for 2019. the average average, a group that in- opening day through Aug. Conigliaro was a Boston- sented on Jan. 16 at the
would have been about cluded Homer Bailey, Matt 31 and then 28 for the rest area native who was the 81st annual Boston Base-
$54,000 higher — more Harvey and Matt Kemp. In of the season.q youngest player to lead a ball Writers' dinner.q

White Sox boost rotation, agree to $5M deal with Gonzalez

By ANDREW SELIGMAN all pick in the 2004 ama- has enjoyed success and
AP Sports Writer teur draft. Chicago dealt should have a positive im-
CHICAGO (AP) — The González to Philadelphia pact on our younger pitch-
White Sox boosted their following the 2005 season ers in terms of competing,
starting rotation, finalizing as part of the trade that battling and helping us win
a $5 million, one-year con- sent Aaron Rowand to the games at the major league
tract with two-time All-Star Phillies for Jim Thome, then level." Chicago went 72-89
Gio González that includes reacquired González a in its seventh straight los-
a 2021 club option. year later along with Gavin ing season and missed the
The deal announced Friday Floyd for Freddy García. The playoffs for the 13th time in
calls for a $4.5 million salary White Sox traded González 14 years since its 2005 World
in 2020 and gives the White to Oakland for Nick Swisher Series title. But with young
Sox a $7 million option for in January 2008. players establishing them-
2021 with a $500,000 buy- González debuted with the In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Milwaukee Brewers starting selves in the majors and
out. He can earn an ad- Athletics in 2008 and is 130- pitcher Gio Gonzalez works against the Colorado Rockies in the promising prospects in the
ditional $1 million in per- 99 with a 3.68 ERA over 12 first inning of a baseball game in Denver. minors, the White Sox ex-
formance bonuses in 2020 years with Oakland (2008- Associated Press pect to contend for a post-
based on starts: $250,000 11), Washington (2012-18) season spot. Right-hander
each for 15, 20, 25 and 30. and Milwaukee (2018-19). González was 3-2 with a ing staff," general manager Lucas Giolito went from the
The 34-year-old left-hander He was an All-Star in 2011 3.50 ERA in 17 starts and 19 Rick Hahn said in a state- highest ERA among qualifi-
finally will get a chance to and 2012, when he won a appearances last season. ment. "He brings an impres- ers in 2018 to his first All-Star
pitch for the team that took career-high 21 games and "We view Gio as an impor- sive resume to our club as season, going 14-9 with a
him with the No. 38 over- had a 2.89 ERA. tant addition to our pitch- a veteran left-hander who 3.41 ERA in 29 starts. q