Neagle has landed/ Rockies sign left-hander to five-year, $51.5

DENVER - Denny Neagle accepted the invitation to join his good friend, Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker, at a concert at the Pepsi Center. Each man was interested in hearing more than just the music of the Dixie Chicks.

Walker had heard that Neagle, a successful left-handed pitcher, wanted to play for the Rockies. Neagle had heard persistent rumors that the Rockies would ask the often spectacular but frequently injured Walker to waive his no-trade clause and send him packing.

"I said, 'Larry, you're not going to go any where, are you?'" Neagle recalled. "He said, 'I would, if I could get what you're going to get, one of those nice rings.' Then he goes, 'Not if you come over here, I won't.'"

Monday, Neagle made it official - he'll try to help Walker and the Rockies get one of those rings.

Neagle, fresh from helping the New York Yankees to their third straight World Series title, signed a five-year contract with the Rockies, with an optional sixth year, that guarantees him $51.5 million.

The Rockies have had little experience with free-agent pitchers, and almost all of it has been bad. But Neagle, 32, ignored the pitcher-pounding reputation of Coors Field and put his strong career numbers - 105-69, 3.92 ERA - at risk.

Neagle, his wife, Jennifer, and their 11-month-old son, Trey, have lived in nearby Morrison since September 1999. Neagle said that was a major factor in his picking Colorado over the New York Mets, Los Angeles and Boston. But he said the Rockies' direction - they won 82 games last season, an improvement of 10 games over 1999, with a reduced payroll and younger squad - solidified his choice.

"I think it's a situation where the team is already here, good enough to do it," said Neagle, who began last season with Cincinnati before his trade to the Yankees for prospects. "Now let's take it to the next level."

How close the Rockies actually will be to that level when the season starts is unclear.

The Rockies need another top-notch pitcher and are willing to offer $112 million over eight years to left-hander Mike Hampton. Hampton also will be hearing offers from his 2000 team, the Mets, plus Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis. The Rockies continue to talk to Los Angeles free-agent right-hander Darren Dreifort. Colorado also needs a right-handed power hitter badly enough to participate in the big-money courting of shortstop Alex Rodriguez.

But Neagle - whose two World Series trips (1996 with Atlanta and last season) constitute the total World Series experience on the Colorado roster - said winning immediately is possible, especially in a National League West Division that doesn't have a dominant team.

Despite the large sum Neagle will be paid, at least initially, the contract won't be a major drain on team finances.

Neagle's getting $7 million each of the first two years - the second year will be in the form of a $6 million salary plus a $1 million bonus. He'll get $9 million in 2002 and 2003 and $10 million in 2004. There is a $9.5 million buyout if the club does not pick up his option for 2005 - if it does, his salary will jump to $12.4 million.

Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd, who has vowed not to discuss the courting of Hampton, said the goal is to use the money the Rockies are not paying Neagle the first two years toward other players.

"This is a story about a family, and a player who wanted to play in the town he lives in," O'Dowd said. "This is a story about an agent (Barry Meister) that worked with me to see the big picture. It's very unusual that this happens in today's age."

Of course, a star pitcher signing with Colorado also is unusual. The way pitchers of Neagle's success have avoided the Rockies and the light air and big outfield area of Coors Field is well-documented. Neagle allows a lot of home runs - 31 last season, 20 or more four other seasons - but said his low walks usually keep damage to a minimum.

"I'll answer this question before anybody asks me: I am not afraid to pitch at Coors Field," Neagle said. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this is not one of the better pitcher's parks. But I hope to change that perception."

Neagle has had his struggles in Colorado, first at Mile-High Stadium and then at Coors, and admitted dreading trips to Denver. But he's won three of his last four decisions at Coors. The fourth game was in 1999, the day before he went on the disabled list with a shoulder problem that has since healed.

Overall, Neagle is 3-3 with a 7.30 ERA in seven starts at Coors Field.

- Thomas Harding may be reached at tharding@gazette.com

Edited and headline by Larry McFarland

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