All that was missing was a tote board, like they have on stage during telethons.
General managers keep strolling up to the microphone, gleefully spending millions of dollars. And 15 furious hours later, when it all was over, they had committed at least $124.65 million on 15 players for a total of 34 seasons.All in all, it was baseball's sale of the century, a dizzying display of dollars tossed at stars and backups alike.
The day began when the New York Yankees re-signed reliever Steve Howe for $4.2 million over two years. It ended at midnight when the Seattle Mariners gave Ken Griffey Jr. $24 million for four years. In between, just about every record imaginable was set:
- For total dollars, Barry Bonds' $43.75 million, six-year contract with San Francisco topped Cal Ripken's $32.5 million deal with Baltimore.
- Bonds' $7,291,667 annual average topped Ryne Sandberg's $7.1 million average with the Chicago Cubs.
- David Cone's annual average of $6 million in his $18 million, three-year contract became the highest for a pitcher, beating Jack Morris' $5,425,000 average with Toronto.
- Cone's $9 million signing bonus with the Kansas City Royals was easiest the largest ever.
When Dave Stewart and the Blue Jays agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year deal at midnight, it made him the 55th free agent to sign. There are 98 left, a group that includes Greg Maddux, Mark McGwire, Ruben Sierra, Wade Boggs, Andre Dawson and Benito Santiago.
Stewart's deal wasn't the only surprising one. Shortstop Greg Gagne and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a $10.7 million, three-year contract. The Royals spent $28.7 million on Cone and Gagne, and also gave Curtis Wilkerson a $400,000 contract, of which $100,000 is guaranteed.
Cone's old team, the Blue Jays, also gave pitcher Danny Cox a minor league contract. Adding up Paul Molitor, Joe Carter and Stewart, the Blue Jays spent $41 million on three players.
Bonds' deal overshadowed all others. It calls for a $2.5 million signing bonus, $4.4 million in 1993, $4.75 million in 1994, $7.75 million in 1995, $8 million in 1996, $8.25 million in 1997 and $8.5 million in 1998.
Cone's deal shields most of his money from a possible lockout or strike. Besides the $9 million signing bonus, he gets salaries of $2 million in 1993 and 1994 and $5 million in 1995.
Griffey, who isn't eligible for free agency until after the 1994 season, gets a $2.5 million signing bonus, $3.5 million in 1993, $4 million in 1994 and $7 million each of the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
Gagne gets a $2.6 million signing bonus, $2.5 million next season, $2.1 million in 1994 and $3.5 million in 1995.
In other deals, pitcher Dan Plesac and the Chicago Cubs agreed to $3.2 million for two years, and Philadelphia outfielder Peter Incaviglia agreed to $2.3 million for two years.
Pitcher Dave Stieb and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a $750,000, one-year deal, of which $300,000 is guaranteed. He can earn $1.25 million more in performance bonuses, and the team has a 1994 option for his 1993 income. The option would become guaranteed if he pitches 210 innings or makes 30 starts.
Pitcher Storm Davis re-signed with Oakland for $1.8 million over two years, and pitcher Bob Ojeda and Cleveland agreed to a $1.7 million, one-year contract with a $1.6 million club option for 1994.
First baseman Dave Magadan and the Florida Marlins agreed to a minor league contract with a side agreement for a $1.7 million, two-year major league contract.
Texas and pitcher Bob Patterson agreed to a one-year contract worth about $750,000, while the Indians and catcher Junior Ortiz agreed to a minor league deal.