BRADENTON, Fla. — Outfielder Nate McLouth reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday on a $15.75 million, three-year contract that includes a team option for 2012.
The agreement was struck hours before the scheduled start of a salary arbitration hearing in Phoenix.
“We agreed to the deal because we believe in Nate and believe we’re going to feel as strongly four years from now as we do today,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “We get cost certainty as we move forward. The player certainly gets the security of the money that’s coming his way. He can go out and relax and play and we can build around him.”
McLouth hit .276 last season with 26 home runs and 94 RBI. He was on the NL All-Star team and won a Gold Glove in center field.
Marlins give Gonzalez extension
Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez resisted any temptation to play hardball when owner Jeffrey Loria offered him a contract extension.
Shortly before the first full-squad workout of spring training, the Marlins announced an extension for Gonzalez through the 2011 season.
Gonzalez was entering the final year of a three-year deal. The Marlins went 71-91 in his first season and improved to 84-77 last year, when he became the third manager to lead them to a winning record.
Encarnacion, Reds agree to deal
Cincinnati and Edwin Encarnacion have agreed to a two-year contract that will pay the third baseman at least $7.6 million through the 2010 season.
Encarnacion batted .251 last season with 26 home runs and 68 RBI.
Ethier, Dodgers reach agreement
Andre Ethier agreed to a $3.1 million, one-year deal with Los Angeles after an arbitration hearing was delayed so the sides could continue to negotiate.
Ethier batted .305 with 20 homers and 77 RBI last year. He had asked for $3.75 million when exchanging proposed arbitration figures and the team had offered $2.65 million.
Brewers, Hart agree to deal
Right fielder Corey Hart and Milwaukee agreed to a $3.25 million, one-year contract — the midpoint between the $3.8 million he had asked for in salary arbitration and the $2.7 million the club had offered.
The 26-year-old Hart made his first All-Star team last season but slumped badly down the stretch. He finished hitting .268 with 20 homers and 91 RBI while making $444,000.
1B Jacobs, Royals agree to deal
Power-hitting first baseman Mike Jacobs agreed to a $3.275 million, one-year contract with Kansas City.
Jacobs had 32 home runs and 93 RBI last season, both career bests, and helped the Marlins become the second team in MLB history with three infielders hitting 30 homers in a season.
Gagne signs minor league deal
Reliever Eric Gagne and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to the major league camp.
Gagne had a $10 million, one-year deal with the Brewers last season. He started out as the closer, blew six save chances and wound up on the disabled list.
Mike Hampton cleared to return
Mike Hampton’s irregular heartbeat has cleared up without a procedure, and the Houston Astros left-hander is headed back to spring training earlier than expected.
A test Monday in Houston showed that his heartbeat had returned to normal after a physical two days earlier revealed a minor irregularity. Instead of undergoing a procedure in which an electrical current fixes the heartbeat, Hampton passed a treadmill test and was cleared to return to Florida.
Rays block Kazmir from WBC
Scott Kazmir will not pitch for the United States in next month’s World Baseball Classic because the Tampa Bay Rays were concerned about the risk of injury to the All-Star left-hander.
The AL champions petitioned to have Kazmir removed from Team USA because the 25-year-old missed the opening month of last season with an elbow strain suffered during spring training and then pitched through October because of the playoffs and World Series.
Adam Kennedy signs with Rays
Tampa Bay bolstered its infield depth, signing second baseman Adam Kennedy to a minor league contract.
He’s scheduled to make $4 million this season, but the Rays would only have to pay him the major league minimum $400,000 if he makes the team.
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