The Pittsburgh Pirates and Garrett Jones who was arbitration eligible, agreed to a one year $4.5 million contract. Jones coming off a career year with 27 home runs and 86 RBIs, receives a raise of $2.25 million from last season.
Jones has been the subject of trade speculation as the Pirates have been shopping him for a high return. As his salary rises, he remains an ideal candidate to be moved but taking him out of the lineup gives the Pirates little to no power behind Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez.
Jones, though, has drawn interest from AL teams and his value has never been higher.
The Pirates also reached a new contract with first basebman Gaby Sanchez on a one year, $1.75 million deal. You have to love baseball’s system as Sanchez had just 4 home runs and 13 RBIs last season, yet goes from making $483,000 to $1.75 million.
While the Pirates have gotten Jones, Sanchez under contract, they have some differences to bridge with Neil Walker and James McDonald.

Walker and the Pirates are $600,000 apart as Walker is asking for $3.6 million and the Pirates are offering $3 million. Look for them to bridge the gap in the coming weeks.
McDonald is seeking $3.4 million, while the Pirates offered $2.65 million.

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