Murray Chass is bonus happy this week

The NY Times baseball columnist says, "Alex Rodriguez, who next month will be named the American League’s most valuable player, won the inaugural clutch performer of the year award,

• and he won’t get a bonus for it. That’s because the award, given by Pepsi, was created seven years after he signed his contract.

Not to feel sorry for Rodriguez, though. Besides his $27 million salary, he gets bonuses for all sorts of other awards — M.V.P., All-Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, etc., etc., etc."

• From NY Times column by Murray Chass, "Off-the-Field Thaw in Yankee-Red Sox Rivalry," 10/28/07 (end of article)

This makes it sound like bonuses are routinely given by the Yankees for various awards, but that's not the case. Looking at Cots Contracts, most Boras clients throughout baseball have bonuses for a variety of awards' showings while other distinguished players do not. From Arod's contract:

• "award bonuses:
• $50,000 for finishing 6th-10th in MVP vote
• $0.1M each for making All Star team, receiving most All Star votes, Silver Slugger, making post-season AP, Baseball America or The Sporting News All Star team, being named player of the year by AP, Baseball America or The Sporting News
• $0.15M each for LCS or LDS MVP
• $0.2M for World Series MVP or finishing 2nd-5th in MVP vote
• $0.5M for MVP ($1M for second MVP, $1.5M for subsequent MVPs) (received $0.5M for 2003 AL MVP, $1M for 2005 AL MVP)"

• It's more what kind of deal the player and/or his agent decide to make. According to Cot's, the following Yankees have no bonuses or awards incentives in their contracts:
• Derek Jeter
• Jason Giambi
• Andy Pettitte
• Mariano Rivera
• Jorge Posada
• Mike Mussina

Sort of leaves Jack O'Connell and the Baseball Awards voters out in the cold--maybe that's one reason a vote may go to players who recognize their awards in their contracts. Why not? Although Johnny Damon is a Boras client, Cot's doesn't list any awards bonuses. This may have been a hint. Bobby Abreu gets a bonus only for 1,2, or 3 MVP votes. Although Mariano Rivera has no awards bonuses, KYLE FARNSWORTH DOES! (Agent listed as Barry Meister). He gets a bonus if he "leads the club in Rolaids Relief points."

• I checked out the incentives Boras got JD Drew:

"award bonuses: $0.2M for MVP ($0.125M for placing 2nd, $0.1M for 3rd, $75,000 for 4th, $50,000 for 5th), $0.1M each for Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or WS MVP, $75,000 for LCS MVP, $50,000 for All Star selection"

• Incentives Boras got Matsuzaka:

• "award bonuses: $0.5M for MVP ($0.125M for 2nd, $0.1M for 3rd, $75,000 for 4th, $50,000 for 5th), $0.5M for Cy Young ($0.4M for 2nd, $0.3M for 3rd), $0.1M All Star start ($50,000 for All Star selection), $0.15M for WS/LCS MVP, $50,000 for Gold Glove, $25,000 for Rookie of Year

• may not be sent to minor leagues
• escalators may increase contract value to total of $60M:
• 2009 & 2010 salaries increase to $10M with:
• Cy Young award in 2007 or 2008, or
• top 3 in Cy Young vote in 2007 and 2008, or
• MVP award in 2007 or 2008, or
• top 5 in MVP vote in 2007 and 2008
• 2011 & 2012 salaries increase to $12M with:
• Cy Young award in 2009 or 2010, or
• top 3 in Cy Young vote in 2009 and 2010, or
• MVP award in 2009 or 2010, or
• top 5 in MVP vote in 2009 and 2010
• perks: physical therapist, massage therapist, interpreter, 8 first-class round-trip airline tickets per year between Boston & Japan, spring training housing allowance of up to $25,000, Boston housing allowance of up to $75,000, one-time moving allowance of up to $35,000, use of Lincoln Town Car or similar car, Red Sox player ticket package, including 2 field box seats, team employee to assist Japanese media, uniform No. 18"

Eric Gagne, Boras client, gets extras:

• "award bonuses: $0.25M for Rolaids award ***($0.2M for placing 2nd, $0.15M for 3rd, $0.1M for 4th, $50,000 for 5th), $0.1M for Cy Young ($75,000 for placing 2nd, $50,000 for 3rd), $0.1M for MVP or Comeback Player of the Year, $50,000 each for WS MVP or All Star selection $25,000 each for LCS MVP or Gold Glove"

***Do the fans get any Rolaids with that?

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