The Pittsburgh Pirates nearly have their arbitration cases wrapped up with the signing of NL batting champ Freddy Sanchez on Saturday. The two parties agreed to a $2.7 million, one-year contract with an opportunity for a $10,000 bonus after 650 at bats. Sanchez hit .344 last season with 200 hits and 85 RBIs.
The club also signed free-agent reliever Dan Kolb to a Minor League contract, with an invitation to Spring Training. Kolb will make $1.25 million if he makes the team and could earn another $1.3 million in incentives, otherwise he will return to free-agency. The right-hander held a 4.84 ERA last season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 48 innings pitched.
Second baseman Jose Castillo is the only remaining Pirate eligible for arbitration with a hearing scheduled for Feb. 14th.
[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
5 comments:
Too bad we couldn't hook Freddy for at least one more season.
They better look to sign Freddy long-term. This guy could be essential to a Pirates team that might surprise in the next few years.
If he starts off hot, an in-season extension might get discussed.
It'd be smart to sign Freddy long-term. He may not be a home run hitter, but he'll get on base and bring runs in. Plus, he's only going to get better defensively.
I strongly agree - small market teams like Minny, Pitt, Florida need to start taking risks and not look at the bottom line to maintain viability of their teams.
Locking up their young stars is a start.
I mused at the end of last season that the Red Sox would be smart to propose a trade with the Pirates for Sanchez and Mike Gonzalez.
I though the two of them could have been great additions to Boston.
Sanchez actually came up in the Red Sox organization.
Post a Comment