Freddy Sanchez and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed on a new two year contract with club option for a third year.  The deal is expected to pay Sanchez as much as $19 million if he plays all three years with the Pirates.

Sounds like a lot of money for a infielder with no pop to me.  Unless he can move up that .300 batting average to the .320 .or .330 range and keep his RBI’s up over 80 each year I don’t think this is a good move for the Pirates.  Just a little to much money to invest in the second basemen in my opinion.

What do you think Pirates fans?

Pirates Blog

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Xavier Nady and John Grabow to one year contracts.  Nady will receive $3.3 million in 2008 while Grabow will earn $1.1 million.

Nady is very well worth the month, but is Grabow?  Time will tell I suppose.  But as a Pirates fan, you would hope they would just shell out five million a year and sign Nady long term.  Even a three or four year deal would do.

Pirates Blog

Adam LaRoche just got a hefty pay raise from the Pittsburgh Pirates.  LaRoche who earned a little over $3 million last year, just agreed on a new one year contract with the Pirates for $5 million.  Yes you read that right, $5 million!

I think that is about 2 million more then he is worth to be honest.  LaRoche definaly hasn’t lived up to all the hype when he came over to the Pirates.

Do you all agree with me?  Bad move my the management signing LaRoche for $5 million?

I know what everyone is thinking, wow another Pittsburgh Pirates Blog.  Well what you don’t know is how often PiratesHomePlate will be updating with game reviews, rumors and transactions, all the way down to great deals on Pirates tickets and merchandise.  We won’t be a blog that updates for a few months then falls off the face of the earth.

The Pirates are at the bottom of the National League pretty much, and we all know that.  Until management decides to spend some dollars and sign some good players, it is going to remain like that.  They can’t keep trading away young talent because they are afraid of payment them a lot more money down the road.

How soon do you think the Pirates will turn this thing around and start battling for spots in the post season?  Do you think it could happen in the next two to three years?  I say around five to six years if management stock piles talent, doesn’t trade it away, and lets their own players develope while trading and signing free agents that fit the team.  What do you think?  Leave us a comment and let us know your opinions about the state of Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball.