Seattle Mariners ace King Felix is truly now the king. According to USA Today, the Mariners and Felix Hernandez have agreed to a seven years $175 million deal.
The deal which should be finalized before spring training, will make Hernandez the highest paid pitcher in baseball history. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract is not yet official.
Hernandez was scheduled to earn $19.5 million in 2013 and $20 million in ’14. Instead, his new contract will take effect this season and pay him a record average annual value of $25 million through 2019.
Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik and Alan Nero, an agent at Octagon Sports, which represents Hernandez, declined comment.
Hernandez new deal will dwarf the six-year $161 million deal Yankees ace CC Sabathia signed before the 2010 season. The annual salary of $25 million is more than the $24.5 million that Zack Greinke will receive annually from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a six-year, $147 million deal signed in December.