By PETER ABRAHAM THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: February 26, 2007)
TAMPA, Fla. - As sports fans, we are conditioned to roll our collective eyes when an athlete agrees to a new contract and says, "It's not about the money." Invariably, it is about the money.
Then there is Ron Villone, the exception to our cynicism.
On the advice of agent Scott Boras, the 37-year-old left-handed reliever declined salary arbitration with the Yankees in December, believing he would get guaranteed two-year offers from other teams.
He did receive those offers, several of them. But this time, against the advice of Boras, Villone turned them all down and agreed to a one-year minor-league contract with the Yankees that includes no guarantees of making the roster.
"I'm a crazy left-hander," Villone said. "It's not about the money for me."
That wasn't the case at first. Villone knew the approval of a new collective bargaining agreement last fall would trigger a hot market for free agents.
Mike Stanton, a lefty reliever of comparable quality to Villone, had agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million deal with Cincinnati in November. Alan Embree got the same deal from Oakland a few weeks later.
"I did get offers, but they weren't lucrative ones," Villone said. "I was stubborn about it."
In a game of financial musical chairs, Villone was the last man standing.
"When people have doubts about your health and performance, you get bad thoughts," Villone said. "I was willing to take a physical for anybody. I was confident with what I could do."
Villone was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball for the first four months of last season. He allowed only 37 hits and 12 earned runs in his first 45 appearances, earning the trust of Yankees manager Joe Torre.
Perhaps too much trust.
Villone appeared in 17 of the 30 games the Yankees played in August, and nine times pitched more than one inning.
"You're sorry it happened, but we had nowhere to go," Torre said. "He had his hand up all the time. We were up against it."
As the workload increased, so did Villone's ERA. He ended the season in a tailspin, giving up 33 earned runs and 38 hits over 26 2/3 innings. His ERA swelled from 2.01 to 5.04.
"I felt fine by the playoffs, like I was back," Villone said. "But it was too late. But I wouldn't change a thing. You learn from your experiences. I was available for 162 games, and I don't regret it. My mind can be stronger than my body at times, but that's me."
But across baseball, the concern was that Torre had worn Villone out. As February approached, Villone's confidence that he would get a good deal turned to wondering why he still was unemployed.
"I was talking to several teams, and I had a few offers," he said. "I just got in my car and drove to Florida."
Along the way, Villone contemplated whether to take a guaranteed two-year deal with another American League team or try his luck with the Yankees again.
Villone knew the Yankees needed a lefty reliever. Going with only one-batter sidearm specialist Mike Myers would be a risk. A Yankees fan all his life, he also valued the idea of being in pinstripes.
The biggest issue was his family life. Villone's ex-wife and two children live in River Vale, N.J. Villone lives a few towns over in Upper Saddle River. Being a Yankee means being able to watch 10-year-old Megan play softball or bringing 9-year-old Ronnie into the clubhouse after a game.
"If I'm playing somewhere else, it's hard to see my kids," he said. "The transition every time I go away hurts. Getting to go to their school during the season was one of the best experiences of my life, so I'm back."
If he makes the Yankees, Villone can earn $2.5 million. If not, he will exercise a clause in the deal and become a free agent on April 1.
Through two weeks of camp, Villone has looked like the pitcher who dominated for four months. Torre watched him throw batting practice yesterday and came away impressed.
"His arm strength is there," he said. "He's certainly qualified, and you liked just about everything about him last year. The fact he ran out of gas, we contributed to that."
You can make a case the Yankees owe Villone one more shot, but no matter what happens, Villone is at peace with his decision.
"More money would have been nice," he said. "Making the right decision is better."
