Randolph Given $5.65 Million, 3-Year Deal

Willie Randolph was somewhat uncomfortable when he talked about his role in turning around the Mets. The manager's boss didn't mince words.

"He changed the culture in the clubhouse from a country club to a work environment," chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said yesterday after rewarding Randolph with a new $5.65 million, threeyear contract.

Randolph, who led the Mets to their first NL East title since 1988, was set to earn $700,000 this year in the final season of a three-year contract worth $1,875,000. His salary this year will be doubled to $1.4 million, and he will get $2 million next year and $2.25 million in 2009. The Mets have a $2.5 million option for 2010.

"If you're a manager in New York, you should get paid somewhat more than other markets," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said.

The Yankees' Joe Torre, Randolph's former boss, has the top salary for a manager at $7.5 million in the final season of a three-year deal that paid him $6.7 million in each of the previous two years.

"This should be about the players and the Mets. Fans should be excited, not be really concerned about my contract, my status," Randolph said. "Respect to me is not dollars and cents, I don't think necessarily. I think the respect is that they feel like I'm the guy to move this organization forward."

After finishing fourth in the NL East at 71–91 under Art Howe in 2004, the Mets went 83–79 the following year and 97–65 last season, matching the Yankees for the best record in the major leagues.