News came out a couple days ago that Mariner’s pitcher Felix
Hernandez would become the highest paid pitchers in Major League Baseball with
the contract that he had signed (or would very soon sign) paying him $175
million for seven years. Mariners fans, including us at Burien Toyota, were
excited to have that commitment from Felix no matter the cost!
However, reports yesterday from both the Felix camp and the
Mariner’s camp stated that, in fact, no deal had been reached yet,
although both parties would like to continue working together.
According to both ESPN (an article that is also featured on
the official Mariner’s website) and the Seattle PI, a deal has not been made
and it seems to be a “moving target.”
"We still have not reached an agreement, but we are
moving forward," Wilfredo Polidor of the Octagon agency that represents
Hernandez told ESPNdeportes.com. "At this moment, we have covered 70
percent of the road."
While there are other ‘reports’ from anonymous sources close
to contract details (including one that said “the deal is for five years and $135.5
million”, we won’t waste too much time on that because, as we found out
soon after the $175 million ‘deal’ was reported, nothing is concrete until the
ink is dry.
“As Mariners fans, we want Felix to stay with the Mariners,”
said Ted Klarich, general sales manager of Burien Toyota. “Pay him $135 million
over five years, pay him $175 million over seven years. Whatever it takes.
Mariners fans need something to believe in and we believe in Felix. I sure hope
he stays because the future of the club could be a lot brighter with him
continuing to stick with us.”
As a result of the incomplete deal, Felix has opted out of
pitching for his home country of Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Participating in the Classic would have caused him to miss three weeks of
spring training with the Mariners and that’s a good chunk of time when in
negotiations for a good chunk of change.
According
to ESPN, Hernandez called Venezuela manager Luis Sojo with "a lot
of pain in his heart" to tell him he wouldn't be pitching for Venezuela in
the Classic.
"Even though it's not easy to lose your ace before
starting an event, Sojo understands that at this moment Felix is thinking about
his future and his family's future," Polidor said.
While some of his countrymen
may be upset Felix isn’t pitching in the Classic, here in Seattle, we think
that’s a good sign he is serious about wanting to reach a deal with the
Mariners.
“Oh, I definitely think
that’s a good thing,” Klarich said. “You wouldn’t get up and leave the table in
the middle of a negotiation that you really want to work, so I think it’s good
that Felix is skipping the Classic to try to make a deal with the Mariners. I
really hope they reach a deal that’s good for everyone: good for Felix, good
for the club, and good for the fans.”
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