McLouth gets 3 year deal to avoid arbitration

[Witlon]

Link: post-gazette.com

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. Finally, there is the now-standard Pirates Charities clause in which McLouth will donate $25,000 of his salary each year to a cause of his and the team's choosing.

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.

Great news for the Pirates, and now with Alvarez, Doumit, McLouth and Maholm all locked up for a few more years, maybe we'll be actually building for the present, instead of the future, now.

[love_that_reefer]

Glad to see the Pirates didn't go too overboard with the salary after his breakout season. This year will tell if that power was a fluke or not. Pirates have some good pieces in place. Maybe Andy LaRoche will have his breakout season and guys like Gorzelanny and Snell can get back on track.

[Witlon]

The biggest problem with this deal is, he'll likely be a corner outfielder for the last 2 years or so of this contract. If he fails to repeat the numbers, then he's overpaid to be a left or right fielder.

Hopefully, we don't have that problem, though.

[catman]

Nice to see a good, young player staying with the Pirates. The fans deserve to see this once in a while.

[BronxBomberz]

Good decision by the Pirates.

[bcshorts]

The biggest problem with this deal is, he'll likely be a corner outfielder for the last 2 years or so of this contract. If he fails to repeat the numbers, then he's overpaid to be a left or right fielder.

Hopefully, we don't have that problem, though.

I don't think that's overpaying even for a corner outfielder. Last year was the first year McLouth even approached the numbers he is capable of, but completing deals like this are essential for the Pirates to become a consistently competitive team. It's a mediocre risk, but even for the Pirates that price isn't too ridiculous. He is the only fan favorite left in Pittsburgh at this point, so it's a big deal in that respect too.

I like the way the Pirates are lining things up. The lineup should be a decent one, although there are unfortunately no power bats to put in the middle. Doumit and McLouth are both All-Star caliber players, but neither are going to consistently hit 30-35 homers. They will have an OPS in the .850 - .900 range, which is nothing to scoff at. Adam LaRoche is the strong final piece to the middle of the order. The infield in general looks to be very good. Jack Wilson is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. Freddy Sanchez also plays great defense and has shown the ability to hit for a very high average.

The questions for the Pirates are in the corner outfield spots, third base, and the rotation. Andy LaRoche will get every chance to show he can live up to his billing as one of the former top prospects in baseball as the starting third baseman. And Nyjer Morgan and Brandon Moss will probably man the corner outfield spots, neither of which are very captivating options, but Morgan has good speed and Moss is a very hard working, hustling type of player.

The rotation is anchored by a Paul Maholm, who will look to build on a very successful 2008 campaign. Ian Snell, Zach Duke, and Tom Gorzelanny will again try to get over the hump and show they are solid major league pitchers. The fifth spot will probably be filled by either Karstens or Ohlendorf, young pitchers acquired from the Yankees in the Xavier Nady trade.

All things considered, I could've just said that, once again, the Pirates will probably finish under .500. However, just like any of the last three or four years, they do have the potential to break the streak of losing seasons and be a competitive team. But they have a lot of things to do to prove it.