More details are trickling in regarding the contract to be signed today or on Tuesday by Giants receiver Victor Cruz.
As a practical matter, the deal pays Cruz the fully-guaranteed amount of $15.6 million in 2013 and 2014, according to a source with knowledge of the terms. Then, come 2015, the contract converts to a series of four one-year deals.
The money is paid over the first two years via a $9.5 million signing bonus, a $630,000 base salary in 2013, a $1.5 million roster bonus due in 2014, and a $4 million base salary in 2014. All of those payments are guaranteed.
The base salaries beyond Year Two are $6.15 million in 2015, $7.9 million in 2016, $7.4 million in 2017, and $8.4 million in 2018.
Though the salaries beyond 2014 aren’t guaranteed, a decision to cut or trade Cruz after two seasons would have a cap consequence in excess of $6 million. That number will reduce with each passing year. Still, after two years it essentially becomes a year-to-year arrangement.
Nevertheless, Cruz has received a guaranteed pay day far bigger than anything he surely ever dreamed he’d receive, and for at least the next two years -- and likely a lot longer -- he’ll be a member of the Giants.