Lenny Dykstra is ready to become the highest-paid player in Philadelphia Phillies history.
Dykstra, who hit .438 with four homers and eight RBIs in the Phillies' World Series loss to Toronto, has tentatively agreed to a $24.9 million, four-year contract extension that runs through 1998."This contract makes Lenny Dykstra the highest-paid Philadelphia Phillie in history and is the richest contract given to a leadoff hitter in major league history," Alan Meersand, one of Dykstra's representatives, said Thursday.
"I could have tried to wait," Dykstra told the Philadelphia Daily News. "Maybe I could have gotten more money somewhere else. But this is where I want to play, this is where I want to dive into bases, this is where I want to yell at umpires. This is where I want to be and I hope the fans of Philadelphia realize that."
The 30-year-old Dykstra is signed for 1994 at $2.6 million. The new contract calls for a $2 million signing bonus, $5.7 million in each of the 1995 and 1996 seasons, and $5.5 million in each of the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The Phillies have an option for 1999 at $6 million with a $500,000 buyout, and the option year becomes guaranteed if he has 500 plate appearances in 1998.
"They didn't have to do it (make the offer), but they wanted to and that shows what a class organization this is," Dykstra said.
"And I told (general manager) Lee Thomas and (owner) Bill Giles that I would do something to make them proud before this contract is through. I told them something very exciting will happen."
Although the sides have agreed on money, Dykstra's agents and the Phillies still were negotiating details.
"Lenny's attorneys are working out the contract language with the Phillies," Meersand said.
Giles and Tomas are on vacation and were unreachable.