Jefferson rewarded with huge contract December 3, 2000
Mississauga, ON--Jesse Gouldson and the Mississauga MapleDogs held a
press conference
earlier this morning, announcing that the team has extended the contract
of
left fielder Reggie Jefferson. Jefferson, 29, came over to Mississauga
from
Galena after the 1998 baseball season--the year Galena won the world
series. The specifics of the contract was not disclosed at the press
conference, but it is reported that it is a $300 million, 30 year deal
without a
mutual option of $130 million for the 40th year.
Jefferson came into his own in 1998, his second year with the
Hamsters,
by becoming the first Hamster player to join the Mr.Sub club and
enjoying many a sub
that season. Jefferson had 33 subs and 31 hoagies during the
regular season, playing in 153 Mr.Sub instant win contests. Jefferson
was considered one of the top contenders to win the EL MVP, along with
soulmate Chipper Jones, who put
together another incredible campaign, playing in all of the Hamsters'
games,
again proving his iron-man triathlon watch takes a beating and keeps on
ticking.
"I'm honoured that the Mississauga organization thinks highly enough
of me to
give me this contract extension," exclaimed Jefferson at the press
conference, "I could have become a free agent, but Gouldson and the
Mississauga
franchise made it clear to me that they didn't want me to go anywhere.
They
wanted me to stay in Mississauga--to not be a Hamster. Maybe a Guinea
Pig..."
"We're afraid to give poor players the rewards they think they
deserve,"
claimed owner/GM Gouldson, "our goal is to win, and that means keeping a
strong
nucleus of players together that can compete against anyone. We believe
that
is what we're doing here in Mississauga. We never expect loyalty from
our players, and
they shouldn't expect loyalty from us. We at least try to take care of
our own. Once you're a MapleDog, you're a MapleDog for life, unless you
leave Mississauga..."
The signing of Reggie Jefferson may mean that less funds are
available
for re-signing FA Pete Incaviglia. Incaviglia had a career year in 1973
and
is reportedly seeking a multi-year contract in the $7 /year range.
