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Felix Hernandez

Felix Hernandez and the Mariners are working on a deal ^[2] that would make Hernandez the highest-paid pitcher in baseball, according to reports. The deal has not been completed, but the expectation is that it would be for $175 million over seven years.

Hernandez’s $25 million per year average would tie him for the second-highest yearly pay in baseball with Josh Hamilton and Ryan Howard, behind Alex Rodriguez‘s $27.5 million. It would surpass CC Sabathia‘s original seven-year, $161 million deal with the Yankees.

The 26-year-old Hernandez signed a $78 million, five year-contract in January 2010. He is still under that contract for the next two years and was set to earn $20 million this year and $20.5 million in 2014. The new contract would supersede that.

Hernandez, the 2010 AL Cy Young winner, has a 3.22 ERA in eight seasons playing for a struggling Mariners team.