THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PEORIA, Ariz. — Adrian Gonzalez said he sacrificed dollars for security the last time he signed with the San Diego Padres. The all-star first baseman said on Wednesday that won’t be the case when his next contract comes up.
Gonzalez has one year remaining on his current deal with a team option for the 2011 season. He says he’s looking for "value" when it’s time to talk contract again.
The slugger hit .277 with 40 homers and 99 RBIs in 160 games last season. He has 130 home runs in four seasons with the Padres despite playing half of his home games at spacious Petco Park.
"This next contract is going to be the one where I look for what I deserve," Gonzalez said Wednesday. "I’m going to let my agent worry about those negotiations, but in talking to my agent, it’s going to be about where my value is.
"If they want to keep me around, they’ll find a way to keep me around. There hasn’t been any talks about anything other than just go out and play, which I told them, I’m going to do."
In April 2007, Gonzalez signed a US$9.5-million, four-year deal. The 2011 club option is for $5.5 million.
Gonzalez knew his name was involved in a number of trade rumours during the winter. He even stopped to check the Internet during a month long vacation in Europe. During the off-season he was often linked to the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners.
"There were like 20 different rumours," said Gonzalez, a two-time Gold Glove winner. "How can so many people make so many things up? Let it happen if it’s going to happen. Don’t just speculate. But at the same time I’ve been traded before and I’ve been through it so I know what to expect.
"You know that 99.9 per cent of everything’s false, so you don’t believe everything you read."
Gonzalez said he’s pleased with the Padres’ moves this off-season. The team added free agents Jerry Hairston Jr., Jon Garland and Yorvit Torrealba to a group that ended on a 37-25 run during the final two months. He also reiterated that no matter how much his name is thrown around, he’ll stay focused on the Padres.
"I think our focus shouldn’t be on ourselves, it should be on the team and the city," Gonzalez said. "Hopefully we’ll bring a championship to San Diego soon. I’m 100 per cent committed to the organization.
"I’m preparing as a Padre. Up until the day, which hopefully won’t happen, but until the day I get traded, I’ll prepare as a Padre. Until that point it’s not on my mind. I’m not going to put any pressure on them. It’s their decision 100 per cent and I’ll deal with it either way."
