Mariners Felix Hernandez to Become Highest Paid Pitcher in Baseball

USA Today and the Seattle Times are reporting that King Felix has agreed to a $175 million, seven year deal to keep him in Seattle.

Larry Stone reported in Thursday's Seattle Times:

Bob Nightengale of USA Today is reporting that Mariners ace Felix Hernandez has agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract that "should be finalized before spring training." Since spring training starts next Tuesday with pitchers and catchers reporting, that means the announcement won't be far away.

 

The deal would make Hernandez, who turns 27 on April 8, the highest paid pitcher in history. According to USA Today, the new contract would replace the final two years of his existing contract, due to pay Hernandez $20 million the next two years. Instead, the new contract would take effect this year and pay him an average annual value of $25 million through 2019.

 

The previous top contract for a pitcher was by CC Sabathia, a seven-year, $161 million deal from the Yankees before 2010 season. The previous high annual value was $24.5 million for Zack Greinke in the six-year, $147-million deal he signed in December with the Dodgers.