MIAMI -- Newlywed Dontrelle Willis expects to become a first-time father in May, and saving for his daughter's college tuition should be no problem.
The Florida Marlins ace agreed Monday to a one-year contract for $6.45 million, a hefty salary for the team with the lowest payroll in the major leagues by far last year.
"I'm very happy," Willis said. "How can you not be? I'm very appreciative to go out and have the opportunity to play baseball."
Willis was married in December, and his wife is expecting a girl in May.
"It's a beautiful thing," he said. "It's something you can't fathom, but you'd better get used to it."
Willis' contract represents a 48 percent increase over his salary of $4.35 million in 2006. He went 12-12 with a 3.87 ERA in 223 1/3 innings.
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| Dontrelle Willis gets a 48 percent raise from his 2006 salary. (Getty Images) |
Willis avoided arbitration with his agreement.
"The family was in my thought process," he said. "I'm happy to be in a position to make a decision like this."
The Marlins' offer was what Willis had been seeking, said his agent, Matt Sosnick.
"We weighed our options and always wanted to be around this figure," Sosnick said. "We thought it was fair. It's always better to avoid arbitration."
The only glitch in Willis' offseason: He was charged in December with drunken driving in Miami Beach. He pleaded not guilty last week.
In 2005, Willis led the major leagues with 22 wins and finished second in the NL Cy Young Award balloting. He was NL Rookie of the Year in 2003, when the Marlins beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.
In 127 starts since being called up from Double-A Carolina in 2003, Willis is 58-39 with a 3.44 ERA.
He can earn a $50,000 bonus if he makes 32 starts this year. He made 34 in 2006.
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