Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez will be paid $12 million US to keep pitching for the New York Mets.
Hernandez, 41, agreed Tuesday to a two-year contract with the Mets, who acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 24.
Orlando Hernandez went 9-7 in 20 starts for the Mets last season.
(Nick Laham/Getty Images)
He receives a $1-million US signing bonus and annual salaries of $4.5 million US in 2007 and $6.5 million US in 2008.
"There's a lot of guys out there right now, close to his age, that are pitching well," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "The way the marketplace is, I didn't think it would be realistic to sign Orlando Hernandez for one year.
"He stays in shape, he's a hard worker. If you wanted to get him, you were going to give him two years."
Hernandez was 2-4 with a 6.11 earned-run average in nine starts before being traded by Arizona, which received reliever Jorge Julio in return.
But the Cuban right-hander pitched well in 20 starts for the Mets, posting a 9-7 record with a 4.09 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 116 innings before tearing a calf muscle and missing the playoffs.
"It's always easier to sign a guy that you know already than to bring in a guy that you don't know already," Minaya admitted. "How many guys can come in there and you know he's going to perform in New York?
"And to me, that's huge. El Duque has proven that he can pitch in New York."
Hernandez is 81-60 lifetime with a 4.18 ERA, nine complete games, two shutouts and two saves in 192 appearances (187 starts) over eight MLB seasons with the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Diamondbacks and Mets.
He was sidelined the entire 2003 season following shoulder surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff.
Hernandez was chosen the most valuable player of the 1999 American Championship Series, and AL comeback player of the year in 2004.
With files from the Associated Press
