Dominican outfielder Vladimir Guerrero signed a US$28 million, five-year contract extension with the Montreal Expos. Guerrero, 22, will get $1 million in 1999, $3.5 million in 2000, $6 million in 2001, $8 million in 2002 and $9.5 million in 2003. Guerrero’s contract is the highest ever for a player with less than two years of Major League service. Guerrero had been earning US$230,000 in his second full season in the Major Leagues. The team’s strategy is to lock in talent in view of the Labatt Park project. Guerrero would have been eligible for free agency after the 2002 season. He is a native of Baní. He is highly regarded for his power, average, speed on the bases and a strong arm on throws from right field. At the moment of the signing, Guerrero had batted 35 homers, one short of Henry Rodriguez’s club record. He also had 100 RBIs and 97 runs scored. He was second in the NL with 56 multi-hit games, third in total bases with 323, fourth in hits with 176, fifth in batting with a .328 average, and seventh in slugging percentage at .603. Guerrero hit .302 with 11 homers in 90 games in his first year in the Major Leagues. The Expos also acquired his older brother, Wilton Guerrero, from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July.
