Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis agreed Monday to a one-year, $6.45-million US contract.
Willis, 25, received a 48 per cent pay hike over last season, when he was paid $4.35 million US by the Marlins, whose payroll of $15 million US was the lowest in the major leagues.
Dontrelle Willis led the Marlins with 223 1/3 innings pitched last season.
(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
"I am very happy," Willis said. "How can you not be?"
"We weighed our options and always wanted to be around this figure," said agent Matt Sosnick, who represents Willis.
"We thought it was fair. It's always better to avoid arbitration."
Willis finished with a 12-12 record with a 3.87 earned-run average, four complete games and one shutout in 34 starts, topping Florida with 223 1/3 innings pitched.
The flamboyant left-hander is 58-39 with a 3.44 ERA, 15 complete games and eight shutouts in 127 starts over four MLB seasons in Florida.
"I'm very appreciative to go out and have the opportunity to play baseball," said Willis, a newlywed whose wife is expecting.
"The family was in my thought process. I'm happy to be in a position to make a decision like this."
Willis, a two-time all-star, was named National League rookie of the year in 2003 as the Marlins won the World Series for the second time in franchise history.
