Clint Barmes Gets a Sweet 2-Year Deal with Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to pay Clint Barmes $10.5 million to play short stop for them for the next two seasons.

To top that off, the 33-year-old middle infielder gets to reunite with his old manager Clint Hurdle, who he played under during his first seven seasons in the big leagues with the Colorado Rockies, where he enjoyed a World Series title in 2007.

Barmes hit .244 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI last season with the Houston Astros, and he couldn't get away from there fast enough. First of all, he wanted to play short, not second base. Second, he wanted to be on a team who didn't suck ass. Mission accomplished. For the Pirates, they get a sweet deal on a free agent middle infielder, since their pockets weren't even close to deep enough for Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins. Everybody's happy.

After releasing Ronny Cedeno, Pittsburgh was searching for someone to play up the middle with second baseman Neil Walker. It seems they've found what they were looking for in a guy who has enjoyed solid numbers at PNC Park: .276 with four homers in just 24 games over his nine-year career. Plus, he'll likely be looked to as a leader for one of the youngest teams in the game:

“The young talent that they’ve got and the season they’ve had last year, there’s a lot of promise and a lot of good things to come. It’s only getting better and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

[MLB]