Kennedy Remains With Angels

Kennedy, who will make $2.5 million in 2004, could have commanded a significantly higher salary through arbitration, his agent, Paul Cohen said. But Kennedy's multiyear deal gives the Riverside native satisfaction in knowing that he will continue to play near home and in front of his father, who attends every game at Edison Field.

"I enjoy being in Anaheim and everything has been a great fit for my family around here," said Kennedy, who made $2.27 million last season. "

General Manager Bill Stoneman said the deal is one that would allow the Angels to keep one of the American League's top young infielders at a bargain rate. Kennedy will make $3 million in 2005 and $3.35 million in 2006, plus up to $150,000 in performance incentives.

"The advantage that we get as a club is we have cost certainty so we can make our plans going forward with Adam Kennedy from a contractual standpoint being a known quantity," Stoneman said.

Kennedy could have priced himself out of the Angels' long-term plans by accepting a one-year deal that would have made him too expensive to keep if he had a stellar 2004. Or he could have played himself into being released with a subpar season.

Kennedy, who turns 28 next month, hit .269 last season with a career-high 13 home runs and 49 runs batted in. The most valuable player of the 2002 American League championship series also tied a career high with 22 stolen bases. He finished the season hitting safely in 17 of his last 21 games, after his playing time had been limited against left-handers earlier in the season.

Kennedy said he did not view the extended nature of the contract as a guarantee that he would be the everyday second baseman from now on.

"If [Manager Mike Scioscia] has another situation where he feels good in a platoon and we're winning, that may be the case again," Kennedy said. "If things work out like they did in 2002 [when Kennedy hit a career-high .312], who's to argue with that?"

Kennedy said his left hand, which was broken Sept. 27 against Texas when he was hit by a pitch, is 100% and that he expects to start swinging a bat Monday.