European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Get Bonilla for $29 million by Ronald Blum new York apr Bobby Bonilla ended a month of frenzied negotiations on monday night when he agreed to a record brewing $29 million five year contract win of the new York met s. The Deal which makes him the highest paid player in baseball includes $27.5 million in guaranteed salary Over the five years. The mets agreed to guarantee an additional $1.5 million in payments for promotional activity. A new York City was in my heart a Bonilla said from his Home in Bradenton la. A i m from the City. I was born grew up and and raised there. The mets showed an interest and i said this could be a lot of fun. It la be hard to Knock the smile off my  v the $5.8 million annual average value tops the previous record of $5.38 million set by Pitcher Roger Clemens in the four year Extension he begins with the Boston red sox next season. The total amount of the Deal Breaks the previous record set eagles conquer oilers by Dave Goldberg Houston a when you have Seth Joyner a healthy or unhealthy a and the a Fly a Best defense you done to need much of an offence. The Philadelphia eagles proved that monday night forcing five fumbles two of them recovered by Joyner to slay in the midst of the pfc playoff race with their fifth straight win a 13-6 decision Over the Houston oilers. With help from third string quarterback Jeff Kemp the latest emergency replacement in a season of emergencies it was enough to keep the oilers from clinching their first acc Central title. A we can dominate on defense Quot said Joyner who forced two fumbles recovered two and had two of Philadelphia s four sacks despite vomiting from the flu in the locker room before the game. A when our front four plays Well our defense is  that was the Case monday night us the eagles won their fifth straight game and improved to 8-5 to tie Dallas and Atlanta in the pfc wild card race. Not Only did they hold an offence that s second in the league with 392 Yards a game to 247, but they never let the oilers inside the 24 a where they got on the final series of the game. It was the first time in 33 games going Back to 1989 that Houston had been held without a touchdown. Kemp meanwhile relieved Jim Mcmahon when he hyper extended his right Elbow and threw for the games Only to a 24-Yard pass to tight end Keith Jackson. It came just a minute and 29 seconds after Roger Ruzek had tied the game at 3-3 Midway through the third Quarter j by outfielder Jose Canseco in his five year $23.5 million contract with the Oakland athletics. A i m still not thrilled about five years a mets general manager Al Harazin said a but to get a player we coveted we had to bite the Bullet on the fifth  Bonilla Bonilla a 28 year old outfielder chose the Metsy offer Over proposals from the Philadelphia Phillies and the California Angels. The Pittsburgh pirates a his former club a also had made an offer As did the Chicago cubs and the Chicago White sox. Dan o Brien an executive with the Angels said californians package did not top $29 million. Bonilla who made $2.4 million after los ing in salary arbitration last Winter gets a $1.5 million signing Bonus $5.5 million in 1992, $5,6 million in 1993, $5.7 million in 1994, $4.7 million in 1995 and $4.5 million in 1996. In addition the team agreed to guarantee the promotional Money. Bonilla also gets $200,000 if he is traded a $100,000 Bonus if he wins a most valuable player award or finishes second or third $250,000 for finishing among the top three in two map ballots $1 million for finishing among the top three in three map ballots and $2 million for finishing among the top three in four map ballots. A Bronx native Bonilla hit .302 last season for Pittsburgh with 18 Home runs and 100 Bis and rejected several offers to re sign with the pirates the last $22.5 million for five years. He had been angered last year when the team took him to salary arbitration and the arbitrator picked the team s offer of $2.4 million. Dennis Gilbert Bonilla s agent said he spoke with Bonilla Between 10 and 15 the stars and stripes december 4,1991 c Page 28 times on sunday and Between 10 and 15 times More on monday. He said Bonilla made the decision to pursue a Deal with the mets at 2 30 est on monday morning. A a in a sort of an East coast Guy a Bonilla said. A i like the change in  new Yorkus opening offer for Bonilla was $24.5 million Over five years but Only four were guaranteed. The mets increased the offer to $26 million Over five years on saturday and added the $1.5 million promotional guarantee raising the total package to $27.5 million. Bonilla who rooted for the Yankees As a kid said the biggest reason for signing with the mets was to return to his Hometown Bonilla a .283 lifetime hitter wanted to sign a four year Extension with Pittsburgh last Winter but rejected the pirates $16 million offer As too Low. He then lost his $3,475,000 request for salary arbitration. Oiler quarterback Warren Moon left dives for his own Fumble along with eagles Jerome Brown during monday nights game. After who else but Joyner had recovered a fumbled snap by Moon and returned it to the oilers 8-Yard-line. The first half had been scoreless until Al Del Greco s Field goal on the last play of the half. A a they re no. 1 on defense no. I is. The Rush and no. I is. The pass. They did no to Hurt their stats any tonight a said oilers coach Jack Pardee. In fact they allowed the oilers inside the 25 Only once a on the final series of the game when Warren Moon who was 24 of 46 for 262 Yards threw three incomplete passes in the end zone from the 24-Yard-hne As time ran out. Until that final drive against a prevent defense the oilers had managed just 185 total Yards. Kemp 10 of 17 for 84 Yards also directed a drive that consumed 10 05 of the fourth Quarter to set up a 29-Yard Field goal by Ruzek with 3 52 left. That cancelled out a 47-yarder by Del Greco late in the third Quarter. Houston fell to 9-4 but remained in Good position for its first division title since the merger of the Al and nil in 1970, either a Houston Victory or a loss by Cleveland in the remaining four games will Clinch the division. Inside sports knocks top hornets for i 6th straight win a Page 25 acc big East split series openers a Page 25 49ers Lefert relies on 2 Steve Edores Page 26 Tulane hires Dartmouth coach a Page 27 l. 1991 All Europe see thursday s stars and stripes