By Dejan Kovacevic | 7:17 a.m. Tuesday
In a sharp reversal, the Pirates and center fielder Nate McLouth this morning agreed to terms on a three-year contract -- plus a club option for a fourth -- that avoided an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for this afternoon in Phoenix.
A source confirmed the agreement overnight, but no financial details are available yet. The term buys up all three of McLouth's arbitration-eligible seasons, plus one out of free agency.
More to come.
UPDATE 7:26 a.m.: It had been universally expected -- and declared by both sides -- that only a one-year term had been getting negotiated since early December, when initial talks aimed at a multiyear collapsed. (And badly at that, by all accounts.) Nothing had appeared to change on that front, either, when team president Frank Coonelly flew yesterday to Phoenix. But neither side was talking publicly the past few days, and that might have been the first indication that something was unusual.
McLouth's multiyear contract means the Pirates succeeded in all three of their offseason multiyear targets, including pitcher Paul Maholm and catcher Ryan Doumit, moves that solidify what management believes will be the core of the franchise for years to come. In all three cases, at least one year of free agency was bought up by the team. In Doumit's case, it was two years.
McLouth, 27, enjoyed a breakout 2008 with a .276 average, 26 home runs, 94 RBIs, a Gold Glove and an All-Star appearance at Yankee Stadium.
The arbitration hearing was to be heard by a three-member panel that would pick one salary or the other -- McLouth submitted $3.8 million, the team $2.75 million for a rare gap that exceeded $1 million -- but the parties were free to reach amicable agreement at any point leading up to the panel's decision. McLouth was first-time eligible for arbitration after making $425,500 last season.
9:20 a.m.: The Pirates inform that there will be no formal announcement of McLouth's contract until later this afternoon. He will be made available to the media in Bradenton at that time. He is flying back from Phoenix, where he, too, had intended to take part in the arbitration hearing.
10:14 a.m.: Total guaranteed money for the contract is $15.75 million.
10:25 a.m. From a source, here is the contract breakdown: There is a $1.5 million signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this coming season, $4.5 million next season, $6.5 million in 2011. The club option for 2012 is $10.65 million, with a $1.25 million buyout. There also are performance bonuses that can be as much as $500,000 for 2010 and 2011, as much as $750,000 in 2012. The bonuses are based on awards.
11:38 a.m.: Just spoke with Mike Nicotera, McLouth's agent, who shared some tidbits: He and McLouth and the Pirates' brass, including Frank Coonelly, met last night at a Phoenix hotel and struck a deal at 1:20 a.m. Arizona time, 3:20 a.m. Eastern time. "Give Frank the credit," Nicotera said. "He got really involved last week, and he made clear to Nate that he wanted to establish a long-term relationship. The Pirates came up with all different kinds of ways. It was at Frank's urging that we went back to a multiyear. We didn't come out here expecting that." The meeting that led to the resolution took up nearly six hours. It ended with Coonelly summoning everyone to the lobby after a short break to hammer out the final details, then hands were shaken.
11:50 a.m.: A little more breakdown on those bonuses, which actually are escalators: If McLouth wins another Gold Glove this season, it adds $200,000 to his salary for 2010. Same holds true for the following year. If he wins one in 2011, it adds $300,000 for 2012. Similarly, there is a $200,000 escalator for an All-Star appearance for 2010 and 2011, $300,000 for 2012. And there is a $100,000 escalator for Silver Slugger awards for 2010 and 2011, $150,000 for $2012. ... Total max value of this contract, option and all, is in the range of $27 million.
11:53 a.m.: That will be it on my end for the day. Chuck Finder will have updates on this from Bradenton, including comments from Neal Huntington and, much later, McLouth. He also will be updating on the first full-squad workout.
Posted
Feb 17 2009, 07:17 AM
by
Dejan Kovacevic