NEW YORK, N.Y. - Jon Lester set Major League Baseball records for largest signing bonus and biggest upfront payment with his $155 million, six-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.The pitchers contract calls for a $30 million signing bonus, of which $15 million is due by April 1, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those details have not been announced.The previous high for a signing bonus had been Vernon Wells $25.5 million under a $126 million, seven-year deal with Toronto that covered 2008-14 and was announced in December 2006. Wells bonus was payable in three equal installments on March 1 each year from 2008-10.Lesters upfront payment tops a mark set Dec. 8 by Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas. The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a $14 million signing bonus for the Cuban outfielder-third baseman, all payable within 30 days of the deals approval by Major League Baseball.Tomas broke a record that had stood since January 1993, when Cecil Fielder agreed to a $36 million, five-year contract with Detroit that included an upfront signing bonus of $10,187,500.Chicago and Lester spread out the rest of the signing bonus in three stages, with $2.5 million payments due by Dec. 31 in 2018 and 2019, and a final $10 million installment by Sept. 15, 2020.Lesters contract was agreed to last Tuesday at the winter meetings by the Cubs and agents Sam and Seth Levinson. The Cubs said Saturday they will introduce Lester on Monday at Spiaggia Restaurant, a favourite of President Barack Obama and his family.Lesters deal includes an option for 2021 that, if it becomes guaranteed, would make the deal worth $170 million over seven seasons.A three-time All-Star who turns 31 next month, Lester helped Boston win World Series titles in 2007 and 13. He was dealt by the Red Sox to Oakland at the trade deadline in July and helped the Athletics reach the playoffs.Lester was 16-11 with a career-best 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts this year. He is 116-67 with a 3.58 ERA in nine big league seasons.___An earlier version misstated the guaranteed length. It is six years, not seven. . "I dont know where we would be without him," McClendon said. "Hes done a tremendous job for us and (Wednesday) was no different." Logan Morrison drove in two runs in Seattles big sixth inning, Young pitched seven strong innings and the Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep. . - Playing a road game against a division rival raises the intensity for linebacker Clay Matthews.
http://www.cheapuscjerseys.com/?tag=usc ... ege-jersey. 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee. . "Im very pleased to be able to add a quarterback with Adrians experience and skill set," Calgary head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement. . Halladays resume as a Blue Jay is among the elite in the franchises 36-year history. Over 12 seasons in Toronto, he was named an All-Star six times. He had arguably the finest campaign of his career in 2003 when he posted a 22-7 record, a 3.Dwayne De Rosarios return to Toronto FC is expected to be confirmed later this week after the former MLS MVP agreed to a contract with his hometown team. Canadas all-time leading goal scorer was selected by TFC in the MLS Re-Entry Draft before Christmas and I understand the two sides have now successfully negotiated a deal, although he hasnt yet put pen to paper. Whether or not this move is the right one for Toronto FC depends on how much they are paying, but with financially prudent general manager Tim Bezbatchenko at the helm, its a good bet the salary cap hit will be low, with the contract fully stocked with bonuses depending on the performances of De Rosario and the team. I was at Air Canada Centre in Toronto on the day De Rosario was first introduced as a Toronto FC player back in December 2008 following a highly successful spell with the Houston Dyamo. It was a heralded homecoming of a player who was one of the most decorated in Major League Soccer - a winner, coming to his hometown as a signature signing for a club heading into its third year of existence. For two seasons, De Ro lived up to the billing, but the club struggled through managerial instability and failed to qualify for the playoffs. However, his personal impact during his first spell with the club was overshadowed by the way in which he exited Toronto early in the 2011 season - a year when he went on to play for both the New York Red Bulls and DC United, and was then named MLS MVP. The infamous cheque signing and then the training spell at Celtic took the shine off his time in Toronto, but now there is a chance to put things right. De Rosario will now have the opportunity to finish a wonderful MLS career in his hometown. He could probably have earned more moneyy elsewhere, but if he can make the desired impact, he has the potential to heal the wounds felt by some fans following his 2011 departure.dddddddddddd. Its not only a chance for De Rosario to make amends, but also for Toronto FC, under new management, to show the club has completely moved on from past failings. This time around, De Rosarios role will be much different. He wont necessarily be the focal point on the pitch, but more a member of the supporting cast for the already signed Brazilian forward Gilberto and the expected arrival of England international forward Jermain Defoe. For a player who turns 36 in May, it seems an ideal scenario. De Rosario is coming off a frustrating season in 2013. His DC United team finished bottom of the Eastern Conference and he scored an MLS career low of just three goals. So it is a much needed change of scenery with all of the financial benefits and home comforts that being in Toronto will bring. For the club, it is a gamble worth taking. It sends a positive message about the teams new management, while also providing them with a valuable piece of the puzzle currently being assembled by Bezbatchenko. De Rosario may be getting to the latter stages of his career, but hes been included in the MLS Best XI six times and still has plenty to offer. In his first spell with the club, he scored 27 goals in 57 MLS appearances during which time he was also named team captain. Its unlikely the Scarborough, Ontario native will produce those goal-scoring exploits this time around but he will more than adequately fit the role that will be asked of him. And in my opinion, the addition of the Canadian veteran is another shrewd addition by a club that appears to be moving in the right direction. ' ' '
