Marlins, Floyd Reach New Deal

Outfielder Cliff Floyd officially became the Florida Marlins' marquee player Thursday, avoiding salary arbitration by re-signing a four-year contract for $19 million.

Floyd, 26, collected $500,000 in 1998 -- just his second full major-league season.

Floyd becomes the first Marlin of consequence to be given a long-term deal under new ownership and the first since the team's fire sale shortly after winning the 1997 World Series. He is one of only three position players remaining from the championship squad.

"I'm excited the organization believes in me and gave me the opportunity to establish myself at the major-league level," he said. "I look forward to my future with the Marlins."

In 1998, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Floyd became the first Marlin to have a 20-homer, 20-stolen base season with 22 and 27, respectively. He hit .282 with 90 RBI and a .481 slugging percentage, while playing in a career-high 153 games.

"Cliff had a breakthrough season at the major-league level in 1998," Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "His prime years are ahead of him and we feel he can improve his performance of last season.

"Cliff can hit in the middle of the lineup and he gives us power and speed. He is a quality individual who represents the organization in a first-class manner."

Floyd, who had just two at-bats in the 1997 postseason, was acquired from Montreal on March 26 of that year for pitcher Dustin Hermanson and outfielder Joe Orsulak. He totaled only 137 at-bats in his first season with Florida, batting .234 with six homers, 19 RBI and six stolen bases.

But he emerged early in 1998, breaking the single-season club record for leadoff home runs with three in April alone. Late in the season, he was moved deeper into the lineup and responded by setting club records for home runs and RBI by a left-handed hitter.

The 14th pick in the 1991 draft, Floyd is a career .262 batter with 40 home runs, 186 RBI and 53 stolen bases.

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