
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 2, 1991                   TAG: 9104020013
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA.                                LENGTH: Short

METS SIGN GOODEN IN $15 MILLION DEAL

Pitcher Dwight Gooden wanted to be the top paid player in baseball, but he wasn't quibbling Monday after falling a few bucks shy of Roger Clemens.

Gooden, with a 119-46 lifetime record, moved into the second spot behind the Boston right-hander by agreeing with the New York Mets to a three-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $15.45 million.

The average annual value of $5.15 million fell shy of Clemens yearly take, which will average $5,380,250 during a four-year extension he agreed to on Feb. 8.

The former Cy Young Award winners are the only players with contracts averaging $5 million a year or more.

"It was important [to be No. 1] but when it's that close, it doesn't really matter," said Gooden during a news conference.

Gooden's new deal contains a total of $750,000 in performance bonuses that would make the right-hander's contract worth more than Clemens' deal, perhaps as much as $5.4 million a year, his agent, Jim Neader, said.

Clemens, 116-51 lifetime, and Gooden have started their careers with seven consecutive winning seasons. The last pitcher with winning records in his first eight seasons was Hall of Fame member Jim Palmer.

The Mets must now turn their attention to left-hander Frank Viola, eligible for free agency after this season. Viola also wants a salary approaching $5 million a year.

Gooden is the 43rd player with a $3 million-a-year contract and the fifth to top the $4 million mark. Jose Canseco is third at $4.7 million, Tony Gwynn fourth at $4,083,333 and Darryl Strawberry fifth at $4.05 million.

by CNB