Detroit makes surprising offer to sign Percival

Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Troy Percival, who never strayed beyond the boundaries of Southern California as a youth, collegiate and professional athlete, found good reason to become enamored with the city of Detroit on a two-day recruiting trip this week.

Percival, a hotel-to-clubhouse type in his decade with the Anaheim Angels, met Tigers legends such as Al Kaline and current manager Alan Trammell, toured well-appointed neighborhoods and saw other amenities that altered his previous perception of Motown as a place consisting merely of "busy freeways," as he put it.

The Angels' all-time saves leader saw something else that somewhat shocked him:

A two-year, $12 million contract offer.

Percival, knowing such offers are rare for closers on the wrong side of 35, signed the contract Wednesday, before his free-agent tour could continue to Cleveland and Chicago.

"It took something special to cancel those other commitments," said Percival, who saved 316 games with the Angels in nine years.

Percival parted with the Angels after they told him young, dominant and inexpensive Francisco Rodriguez would be their closer in 2005. He previously had figured the two-year, $16 million extension that expired after last year would be his final contract as a professional.

But after earning 33 saves in 2004 and overcoming a first-half elbow injury to convert 21 of his last 22 save opportunities, Percival said he'd seek a multiyear contract. The Angels let him go, but in a tight market for closers, the Tigers snapped him up.

While the franchise has not been renamed yet, the team still known as the Expos is scheduled to open next season against the Arizona Diamondbacks at RFK Stadium on April 15.

The shift of the franchise from Montreal to Washington is set to be approved today when baseball's owners meet in Chicago.