From Joe: One Year deal, eh? Probably a hedge against his career stats, which aren’t THAT great. I don’t think Sele deserved 6.25 mil (he made $2.85 in 98). He got 19 wins, but doesn’t seem like that dominating of a pitcher. Discuss this on the forums..
UPDATE: The news services are reporting the contract is for $5,525,000. In addition to his base salary, Sele can earn a pair of $50,000 bonuses: $50,000 for making the American League All-Star team and $50,000 for pitching 115 innings.
sele1.jpg (15501 bytes)ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) — Righthander Aaron Sele, who had the best year of his career last season, today agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, avoiding arbitration.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Coming off a 19-win season, Sele was seeking $6.25 million while the Rangers were offering $4.8 million, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Sele, 28, made $2.85 million in 1998, when he went 19-11 with a 4.23 ERA in 33 starts, helping the Rangers win their second American League West title in three years. He led the staff with 167 strikeouts and added three shutouts and two complete games as he made the All-Star team.
Last season was Sele’s first with the Rangers. He spent parts of his first five seasons with the Boston Red Sox and has a career mark of 57-44 with a 4.37 ERA in 141 starts. He missed nearly all of 1995 with arm trouble and also was on the disabled list in 1996.
Sele was acquired with pitcher Mark Brandenburg and catcher Bill Haselman for outfielder Damon Buford and catcher Jim Leyritz on November 6, 1997.
The Rangers have 29 of their 40 roster players under contract, none of whom are eligible for arbitration.