Friday, February 02, 2007

Grabow and LaRoche sign; MLB.com Preview

The Pirates avoided arbitration with first baseman Adam LaRoche and pitcher John Grabow on Friday by agreeing to terms on one-year contracts.

Grabow will receive a base salary of $832,500 plus performance incentives, more than double the $341,750 the left-handed reliever was paid in 2006. Grabow had filed an arbitration number of $925,000 while the Pirates has submitted a bid of $765,000.

The agreements leave the Pirates with only two unsigned arbitration-eligible players, infielders Freddy Sanchez and Jose Castillo.

Sanchez's case is scheduled to be heard Feb. 8 while Castillo's hearing is set for Feb. 14. The Pirates have offered Sanchez $2.15 million while the third baseman is seeking $3.1 million. Castillo wants $2.2 million while the Pirates have offered $1.8 million.

In other news, here is MLB.com's preview of the NL Central Division. You might not want to look, the Pirates are predicted to finish dead last under the heading of, "Maybe Next Year."

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