Topic: Padres reward Gonzalez for good year

Associated Press

PEORIA, Ariz. - San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez agreed to a one-year contract Thursday that will pay him $500 more than the major league minimum.
Gonzalez, who hit .304 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs last season, is set to earn $380,500 in 2007.
General manager Kevin Towers said the team initially offered $391,500, but rejected the deal after Gonzalez and agent John Boggs asked for $418,000 - a 10 percent raise over the minimum.
Towers said Gonzalez was receiving a sizable raise given that the collective bargaining agreement increased the league minimum from $327,000 to $380,000 for 2007.
"We've been a club that has never really recognized the boost in the league minimum," Towers said. "(Gonzalez) wanted a significant raise on top of that. My hope is Adrian's a guy who's going to be wearing a Padres uniform for a long time and hopefully he makes a lot of money in it."
Gonzalez, who has been in the major league for more than a year and is under the control of the Padres, will be eligible for arbitration before the 2009 season.
Towers added that pitcher Clay Hensley has agreed to terms of a one-year, $392,000 deal.