Pirates sign third baseman
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Third baseman Chris Stynes, who left the Colorado Rockies so they could bring back free agent Vinny Castilla, signed a $975,000, one-year contract Tuesday with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The contract calls for a $750,000 salary next year and a $1,425,000 club option for 2005 with a $225,000 buyout.
Stynes, joining his sixth major league club and fifth in five seasons, made $950,000 last season while hitting .255 with 11 home runs and a career-high 73 RBIs in 138 games.
“He had a solid year with the Rockies,” Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. “This guy will be our third baseman, and we feel he’ll do a real solid job for us.”
The right-handed hitting Stynes isn’t a power hitter like former Pirates third baseman Aramis Ramirez – he’s never hit more than 12 homers – but is a better fielder.
The 30-year-old Stynes was second to Florida’s Mike Lowell in fielding percentage among NL third basemen and, with shortstop Jack Wilson, gives the Pirates an excellent left side of the infield defensively.
“We looked around at possible players we might acquire in trades or as free agents and, relative to what was available, we’re real comfortable with him,” Littlefield said. “He had a solid year offensively ad defensively and is a career .280 hitter.”
Stynes also costs the Pirates a lot less than Ramirez would have. The Pirates dealt Ramirez and center fielder Kenny Lofton to the Cubs in July, mostly so they didn’t have to pay Ramirez’s $6 million salary in 2004. The trade came about the time owner Kevin McClatchy said the Pirates have lost $30 million the last three seasons.
The deal was most of the most unpopular in recent Pirates history, mostly because their fans felt they got little in return. The Pirates have only one player left from the trade – Bobby Hill, who failed a previous trial with the Cubs but will compete in spring training to be Pittsburgh’s second baseman.
Infielder Jose Hernandez was released when the season ended and minor league pitcher Matt Bruback was claimed by the Padres after the Pirates left him unprotected.
Stynes has spent most of his career as a utility infielder and part-time starter, never getting more than 380 at-bats until getting 443 with Colorado last season. He also played for the Royals (1995-96), Reds (1997-2000), Red Sox (2001) and Cubs (2002), hitting .334 in 119 games with Cincinnati in 2000 and .348 in 49 games in 1997.
Even after the Rockies chose not to pick up Stynes’ $1.25 million option for 2004, they discussed bringing him back to compete at second. Stynes preferred knowing he would be a regular in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates also are looking for a closer, a left-handed power hitter – they chose to let Matt Stairs sign with the Royals for $1 million – and another starting pitcher.
The top priority is a closer, Littlefield said, “Because we don’t have one.”