KEY POINTS:
Credit cards taking a Christmas hammering yet? Spare a thought for poor old Toronto Blue Jays baseballer Vernon Wells.
The 28-year-old yesterday signed a contract extension to take him through to 2014 worth US$126 million ($185 million). It's the sixth richest deal in Major League Baseball history.
Wells does not have a deal with a standard contract structure.
He will earn a salary of US$500,000 in 2008 and US$1.5 million in 2009, but he also gets a US$25.5 million signing bonus payable in three instalments on March 1 in 2008, 2009 and 2010. His salary climbs to US$12.5 million in 2010.
He will earn US$23 million in 2011 and the final three seasons will pay him US$21 million annually, although he has an option to opt out of the deal after the fourth year. The contract is designed to give the Blue Jays room to manoeuvre with their payroll.
Maybe it's time to go and knock on the boss' door.
THE BIG EARNERS (all US dollars)
Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) - $252m for 10 years
Derek Jeter (Yankees) - $189m for 10 years
Manny Ramirez (Red Sox) - $160m for eight years
Todd Helton (Colorado) - $141.5m for 11 years
Alfonso Soriano (Washington) - $136m for eight years
- REUTERS
