On Feb. 20, 1984, Pedro Guerrero avoided arbitration with the Los Angeles Dodgers by signing a five-year, $7 million contract, which at the time set a record for the most lucrative deal in team history.
Guerrero agreed to the historic contract hours before his salary arbitration hearing was set to take place in L.A. He originally sought a $1.2 million salary for the 1984 season, while the Dodgers countered at $900,000.
Guerrero enjoyed a career year in 1983 that saw him switch from the outfield to third base. He hit .298/.373/.531 with 28 doubles, six triples, 32 home runs, 103 RBI and 23 stolen bases over 664 plate appearances (160 games), earning an All-Star Game nod and fourth place finish in National League MVP voting.
Guerrero spent parts of 11 seasons with the Dodgers, batting an overall .309/.381/.512 with 169 doubles, 24 triples, 171 home runs and 585 RBI in 1,036. He helped the organization win the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees, hitting .333 with two home runs and seven RBI in six games en route to MVP honors.
In August 1988, the Dodgers traded Guerrero to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher John Tudor. Guerrero spent the final four seasons of his career with the organization, batting .282/.348/.416 with 98 doubles, five triples, 44 home runs and 313 RBI in 500 games.
Guerrero was a five-time All-Star, with four of those nods coming during his tenure with the Dodgers. He finished in the top four in MVP voting on four separate occasions throughout his career.
Betts holds distinction for richest contract in Dodgers history
While Guerrero’s five-year, $7 million contract represented a Dodgers record in 1984, Mookie Betts now holds the distinction of having signed the richest deal in team history.
One day prior to Opening Day of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Dodgers signed Betts to a record-breaking 12-year, $365 million contract extension.
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