New ballpark or not, Mike Lowell is staying with the Florida Marlins.
Lowell, who could have opted out of his contract because the team hasn't secured new stadium financing, agreed Friday to a revised deal in which the team guarantees the remaining US$25.5 million on his contract.
"I was hopeful that things would work out because I want to be a Florida Marlin," said Lowell, a three-time All-Star third baseman who hit .293 with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs last season. "It would have been hard for me to play under a one-year deal. ... It's only logical I'd want to play for the long term."
Lowell, who went to high school in South Florida, signed a US$32 million, four-year contract before last season -- with a provision that if no new ballpark deal was in place by Monday, the final two seasons would be voided and Lowell would have a player option for 2005.
Florida has made strides toward securing that new ballpark, a 38,000-seat, retractable-roof facility that would be built adjacent to downtown Miami's Orange Bowl at an estimated cost of US$420 million. And like the team, Lowell is confident that a deal is on the way.
"I do think a stadium is going to happen," said the 30-year-old Lowell, who has hit .277 and set franchise-records with 135 home runs and 520 RBIs during his six seasons with the Marlins.
Some gaps still exist in the stadium funding plan, and the team wants state government to commit US$30 million for the project. The team has committed US$192 million toward construction, with city and county governments pledging at least US$148 million more.
Team president David Samson said he hopes the city, county and club can agree on the parameters of a financing plan by the end of November -- which would leave the sales tax rebate from the state as, he said, "the last piece of the puzzle."
"We're still pushing hard for a stadium to open as early as possible," said Samson, who's aiming for a facility to be completed by 2007 or 2008.
The Marlins lost an estimated US$20 million in 2003, despite winning the World Series for the second time in seven seasons. Their lease with Pro Player Stadium and former Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga does not allow the team any revenues from luxury box rentals or parking, and only a small piece of concession sales.
Without those streams of cash, the Marlins say they cannot survive.
The Boston Red Sox exercised their option Friday on third baseman Bill Mueller, a former batting champion who had the season-saving single against the New York Yankees in the AL championship series.
Mueller will earn US$2.5 million next season from the team which could have paid him a US$500,000 buyout. Pitchers Terry Adams and Pedro Astacio declared for free agency on Friday, leaving the Red Sox with up to 14 other players eligible for free agency, including Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe.
"We have tremendous ownership. We have a great fan base. We have a great nucleus. We have a lot of resources," Mueller said in St. Louis on Wednesday night after the Red Sox beat the Cardinals to complete their World Series sweep. "Maybe we can contend for this every single year."
The 2003 AL batting champion, Mueller batted .283 with 12 homers and 57 RBIs this season. He was limited to 110 games by arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
He batted .321 in the playoffs, including a .429 average in the Series. But his biggest hit came in the fourth game of the ALCS. With the Red Sox trailing 4-3 in the ninth and New York closer Mariano Rivera on the mound, Kevin Millar drew a no-out walk. Dave Roberts pinch ran and stole second base before Mueller singled to tie it.
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