The Pittsbugh Pirates just announced minutes ago that the team has signed 1st baseman Lyle Overbay to a one year contract. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
The 34-year-old Overbay spent the 2010 season with Toronto and hit .243 with 37 doubles, 20 home runs and 67 RBI in 154 games. He also ranked fourth among A.L. first basemen in extra-base hits (58) behind Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (83), New York’s Mark Teixeira (67) and Chicago’s Paul Konerko (61).
Overbay made 153 appearances (150 starts) at first base in 2010 and ranked second among American League first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage. In addition, he led A.L. first basemen in double plays (150) and assists (101) while ranking second in putouts (1301) and total chances (1417).
“Lyle Overbay is solid major league player and we expect him to have a positive impact on our club offensively, defensively and in the clubhouse,” said Huntington.
The left-handed hitting Overbay spent the last five years with the Blue Jays, increasing his home run total in each of the last four seasons. After being selected by Arizona in the 18th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Overbay made his Major League debut with the Diamondbacks in 2001 and played three seasons with Arizona before being traded to Milwaukee prior to the 2004 campaign.
In parts of 10 seasons in the Major Leagues, Overbay has produced a .274 batting average, 287 doubles, 122 home runs and 524 RBI in 1138 games. His finest big league season came with Toronto in 2006 when he tallied 46 doubles, 22 home runs and 92 RBI in 157 games. Since the beginning of the 2004 season, Overbay ranks third among all Major League first basemen in games played (1015) behind Albert Pujols (1064) and Mark Teixeira (1038).