Freddy Sanchez

Fan favorite Freddy Sanchez has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Pirates. The deal is supposedly 2 guaranteed years and one option year with a total 3-year worth of about $19 million.

Sanchez was originally property of the Red Sox and was a favorite at both triple A Pawtucket and in Boston because of his hard work, hustle and general good guy demeanor. Trading Sanchez ranks up there as perhaps Theo Epstein's greatest mistake (trading for Eric Gagne being another). He traded Sanchez and Mike Gonzalez (career 2.29 ERA and 30 saves) for Jeff Suppan plus Brandon Lyon (flotsam) and Anastacio Martinez (jetsam). Suppan went 3-4 with a 5.57 ERA in 10 starts for the Red Sox before he skedaddled out of town.

Signing Sanchez allows the Pirates to avoid arbitration with any players this year. The Red Sox have just Kevin Youkilis still in the arbitration process and I'd be surprised if Youkilis didn't end up with a deal very similar to the one Sanchez just signed.