BASEBALL NOTEBOOK
Cubs' Lee, Red Sox' Ortiz Reach Extensions
Actor Michael Keaton gets ready for a second try at the first pitch before the Pirates' home opener. His first was in the dirt; the second went down the middle.
(By Gene J. Puskar -- Associated Press)
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NL batting champion Derrek Lee and the Cubs agreed to a five-year, $65 million contract, a deal expected to be announced today.
"It's fairly likely something will be worked out," agent Casey Close said yesterday. "We still have to iron out some things."
The Cubs called a news conference for today but did not specify its subject, and Cubs GM Jim Hendry declined comment.
Lee is making $8 million in the final season of a three-year, $22.5 million deal. His new contract calls for a $13 million annual salary from 2006 to 2010 and contains a no-trade clause, one person familiar with the agreement said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Late last week, Lee said he would break off negotiations for the rest of the season if the sides did not reach an agreement by last Saturday, but he later softened his stance.
· FOUR MORE YEARS FOR ORTIZ: Red Sox slugger David Ortiz agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract extension through 2010, five months after leading the AL with 148 RBI and finishing runner-up for the league's MVP award.
The designated hitter was in the last year of a two-year, $12.5 million extension he signed in May 2004. That deal called for a $6.5 million salary this year and gave Boston an option for 2007, currently valued at $8.4 million with a $1.4 million buyout.
Ortiz's new deal contains a team option for 2011.
"I want to finish my career as a Red Sox player," Ortiz said at a news conference at Fenway Park. "I'm going to be around for a while. I'm pretty sure New England is going to take this as good news."
· BRAVES' JONES GOES ON DL: 3B Chipper Jones went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right knee and ankle, but the injury wasn't as severe as the Braves feared.
