AP News, February 5th, 2008
Second baseman Freddy Sanchez and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed Tuesday on an $11 million, two-year contract that includes an option for 2010 that could make the deal worth $18.4 million.
Sanchez gets a $300,000 signing bonus, $4 million this year and $6.1 million in 2009. The deal includes an $8 million option for 2010 with a $600,000 buyout.
The option would become guaranteed if he has 635 plate appearances in 2009 or is selected for the All-Star game and has 600 plate appearances. Depending on certain thresholds, the option could increase to $8.5 million.
The contract allowed the 2006 NL batting champion to avoid an arbitration hearing. Sanchez sought $4.9 million and the team offered $4.1 million.
The 30-year-old Sanchez, a one-time American Legion teammate of Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, didn't become an everyday player until a month into the 2006 season but went on to win the batting title with a .344 average. It the highest average by a Pirates regular since Roberto Clemente hit .345 in 1969.
Sanchez also drove in 85 runs despite hitting only six homers.
Sanchez started slowly last season after a knee injury forced him to miss nearly all the Pirates' exhibition schedule, and he ended April with a .224 average. He bounced back to finish with a .304 average, 11 homers and 81 RBIs.
Sanchez is the first Pirates infielder to hit .300 in consecutive seasons since third baseman Bill Madlock in 1982-83, based on a minimum of 450 plate appearances. Sanchez was a third baseman when he won the batting title in 2006.
