Kirk Rueter signs contract extension

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Lefthander Kirk Rueter, who has won at least 10 games six straight seasons, on signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday with the San Francisco Giants.

The deal, which is worth $12 million, will keep the 32-year-old Rueter under contract with the Giants through the 2005 campaign.

"I'm just happy," said Rueter, who was 14-8 with a 3.23 ERA last year. "We went to the Giants and I knew this was the last year of my contract. I wanted to, like I did the last time, try to give myself every opportunity to stay in a Giants uniform as long as I can."

During 2000, the final year of his previous contract, Rueter signed a three-year, $15.6 million deal that expires at the end of the 2003 season.

Rueter has a 109-68 career record, including a 84-56 mark in seven seasons in San Francisco. His winning percentage of .615 is 10th among active pitchers and fifth among lefthanders since 1980.

Last season, Rueter became the first Giants lefthander to string together six straight 10-win campaigns since Johnny Antonelli in the 1950s.

"If you look at his track record, we all in the organization know what he's meant to the ballclub," Giants General Manger Brian Sabean said.

Rueter was acquired from the Montreal Expos prior to the trade deadline in 1996. His best season came in 1998, when he went 16-9 with a 4.36 ERA.