May 15, 200422 yr Associated Press PHOENIX -- Jose Vidro is staying home, wherever home might be next season. The All-Star second baseman agreed to a $30 million, four-year contract extension with the Montreal Expos on Friday. Vidro Vidro said the deal was completed in principle Wednesday. It was announced after the Expos snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. "I've told you guys I didn't see myself in another uniform," Vidro said. "By signing me, it's a sign we are going to have a home next year. We don't have a permanent home but I feel like in this team I'm in my home." The Expos, owned by the other 29 major league clubs, are playing 22 "home" games in Puerto Rico again this season to increase revenue. Baseball is searching for a new home for the team, expected to move from Montreal sometime after this season. Vidro, who would have been eligible for free agency after the World Series, told his agents earlier this year not to call unless the deal was completed. "I'm very happy that this deal got done," he said. Vidro has spent his entire seven-year career in Montreal, becoming the Expos' player with the longest current tenure. The three-time All-Star is hitting .262 with a team-high four homers and 13 RBIs. "He wanted to be here," general manager Omar Minaya said. "This means we are able to hold onto one of our better assets. We're going to be able to have a nucleus of players here to build upon." Vidro is completing a $19 million, four-year deal he signed in 2001. Vidro entered Friday's game fifth on the Expos' career list in doubles (242), sixth in runs (482), seventh in hits (973) and ninth in RBIs (424). The next piece of business for Minaya and the Expos is shortstop Orlando Cabrera, also eligible for free agency after the season. "We'll have to see," Cabrera said. "We've come to agreement to work it out and we'll see what happens. I don't have my hands tied to stay here. I'm going to wait long enough and then decide whether I want to stay here or to move on."
May 15, 200422 yr good for the Expos and their fans i feel good for them anyways, Orlando Cabrera is now Probably on the Market
May 15, 200422 yr Yeah, after signing Livan (still makes no sense to me on the part of either side) and now Vidro, Cabrera is definitely available...
May 15, 200422 yr There goes my off-season plans for the Sox. I would have liked Boston to try an get this guy and then let Nomar walk. New no. 1 target: Matt Morris.
May 15, 200422 yr good for les expos ... at least they will have one good player on their team. and plus I would have hated the thought of him playing in pinstripes or in Boston
May 15, 200422 yr bravo expos, I love to watch Vidro play, he's a heck of a player, and hopefully the expos will be playing in Brevard next spring so I can see him play again. Unless of course the marlins want to move back in, I'd be fine with that.
May 15, 200422 yr With stakes to claim the Expos heating up it looks like the other 29 owners will be busy resigning the team's young stars to sell the team at the highest price possible.
May 16, 200422 yr Another happy member of the soon-to-be Washington Senators no....the Monterrey Mexicans
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