TEMPE, ARIZ. — On the day Angels pitchers and catchers held their first spring-training workout, Ervin Santana reported to camp a wealthy young man, agreeing to terms Saturday on a four-year, $30-million deal.
The contract includes a $13-million option for 2013 that can be bought out for $1 million. If the option is exercised, the Angels would secure one of their top young pitchers through all three of his arbitration years and his first two years of free agency.
Santana, 26, struggled so much in 2007 (7-14, 5.76 earned-run average) that he was demoted to triple A that July, but the right-hander had a bounce-back 2008, going 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA and making the American League All-Star team.
"We felt comfortable with Ervin's ability to win games, be a good teammate and represent the club in a very positive way," General Manager Tony Reagins said. "This provides stability for his family and provides us with a quality pitcher who has a tremendous upside. . . . And we don't think we've seen the best of him yet."
Santana's arbitration hearing, scheduled for Friday, was postponed while Reagins and Santana's agent, Bean Stringfellow, hammered out the final details of the contract.
Negotiations between the sides went a lot smoother than last winter, when Reagins and Stringfellow couldn't agree on a salary and the Angels renewed Santana for $420,000, a cut from the $425,000 he made in 2007.
"I'm very happy," said Santana, who opted not to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic next month. "I want to work hard and prove why I got the contract; that's what I'm going to do."
Top young players can usually make more going year to year through arbitration instead of signing long-term deals. "But to me, the difference is, the security is better," Santana said.
"You know you're going to be here for four more years instead of playing for one year. I feel good about that. . . . I'm comfortable with it because I'm the one who makes the decision."
Santana, who mixes a 95-mph fastball with a slider and changeup, established career bests last season with 219 innings and 214 strikeouts. He had a career-low ERA and tied a career high for wins. With a 51-37 record in four seasons, he is the youngest active major leaguer with at least 50 wins.
Under his new contract, Santana will make $3.8 million this season, $6 million in 2010, $8 million in 2011 and $11.2 million in 2012.
