TUCSON, Ariz. – As a low-pitched rumble built outside the
small conference room, Larry Walker couldn't help himself.
"Here comes your jet," Walker said.
Todd Helton just smiled, looked down and shook his head. He
wasn't in a position to argue.
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It is hard to believe some players in baseball are worth the money teams are paying them. But Todd Helton is the only star the Rockies' farm system developed, and he is a legitimate offensive player. He not only had a great year in Coors Field in 2000, but he also put up astronomical numbers on the road.
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Helton, 27, became one of baseball's highest-paid players
Thursday after signing the fourth-largest contract in sports
history -- a nine-year, $141.5 million contract extension with the
Colorado Rockies.
The contact means Helton will receive nearly $151.5 million over
the next 11 years. His current four-year deal calls for him to make
$4.95 million this season and $5 million in 2002.
"This contract lets me go out and play and statistically not
worry about what happens," Helton said. "I can go out and be a
team player because basically I'm locked in for the next 11 years.
The feeling that gives me is wonderful. Just to be in the big
leagues for 11 years is something I thought would never even
happen."
The Rockies approached Helton about a contract extension last
April, and focused on negotiations this winter after Colorado
signed free-agent left-handers Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle to
long-term deals.
"It's a case where we've had a plan all along of locking up our
key players and adding to the talent of this club and developing
character and ability," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said.
"We know Todd's got great preparation and pays attention to
details. He's certainly not going to become a different player with
this contract. "
Under terms of the extension, Helton will receive $10.6 million
in 2003, $11.6 million in '04, $12.6 million in '05, $16.6 million
from '06-'10 and $19.1 in '11. The Rockies have an option pay
Helton $23 million in 2012 or execute a $4.6 million buyout.
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Biggest baseball contracts
|
|
Player
|
Years
|
Total
|
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A. Rodriguez
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2001-10
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$252M
|
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Derek Jeter
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2001-10
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$189M
|
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M. Ramirez
|
2001-08
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$160M
|
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Todd Helton
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2001-11
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$141.5M
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M. Hampton
|
2001-08
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$121M
|
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Ken Griffey
|
2000-08
|
$116.5M
|
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Kevin Brown
|
1999-05
|
$105M
|
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Mike Piazza
|
1999-05
|
$91M
|
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C. Jones
|
2001-06
|
$90M
|
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M. Mussina
|
2001-06
|
$88.5M
|
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B. Williams
|
1999-05
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$87.5M
|
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Jeff Bagwell
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2002-06
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$85M
|
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S. Green
|
2000-05
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$84M
|
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Mo Vaughn
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1999-04
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$80M
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"This contract basically lets me play my whole career in one
place," he said. "To me, that's wonderful and it doesn't happen
that often, so that's very exciting."
Helton, who would have been eligible for free agency after the
2003 season, also can opt out of the contract at the end of 2007
but said, "I don't see myself playing anywhere else or wanting to
play anywhere else. I guess it's a safety valve."
The reigning NL batting champion, Helton flirted with the .400
mark last season before finishing at .372 with 42 home runs and 147
RBIs. He also was named the Associated Press Major League Player of
the Year.
"He deserves everything he's getting," Walker said. "He's at
the top of his class in the league as far as the best players. He's
just going to keep getting better and better. That's going to be
tough to do, because he's pretty good right now."
Helton's batting average and run production have increased in
each of his first three full seasons and he will hit fourth in a
lineup loaded with steady hitter this year.
Just don't ask him to make predictions on what his numbers will
look like now that he is baseball's latest lottery winner.
"If I go out and try to do what I did last year, I'm in
trouble," he said. "I can't put statistical goals on myself."
In total dollars, Helton's contract extension trails only Texas
shortstop Alex Rodriguez ($252 million over 10 years), New York
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter ($189 million over 10 years) and
Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez ($160 million over eight years).
The average annual value of the deal is $15,722,222, the
seventh-highest in baseball, trailing Rodriguez ($25.2 million),
Ramirez ($20 million), Jeter ($18.9 million), Sammy Sosa ($18
million), Jeff Bagwell ($17 million) and Carlos Delgado ($17
million).
"There's no denying that's a lot of money," Helton said.
"With that comes responsibility. I'm not talking on the field
because if you put that kind of pressure on yourself, you're really
not going to be able to go out and play the way you're supposed to
play. It comes off the field. It comes in the offseason preparing
yourself and making sure everybody else is prepared."
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 Todd Helton knows there will be added pressures with his new contract.
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