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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Pirates Sign Another Old Man


"PITTSBURGH -- First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who caught the final out in 2004 that gave the Boston Red Sox their first World Series championship in 86 years, agreed Monday to a minor league contract Monday with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Mientkiewicz
Mientkiewicz would get a $750,000, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster. The deal also includes $750,000 in performance bonuses.
Pittsburgh is looking for another bat off the bench after not bringing back first baseman Josh Phelps, who hit .351 in 29 games with the Pirates last season after also being picked up from the Yankees. Phelps was arbitration eligible and the Pirates did not offer him a new contract, and he signed with St. Louis.
The 33-year-old Mientkiewicz missed more than half of last season for the Yankees with a broken right wrist that occurred when he collided with Boston's Mike Lowell.
Mientkiewicz hit .277 with five home runs and 24 RBIs in 72 games last season. He has a .271 career average with 64 homers and 372 RBIs in 942 games with Minnesota, Boston, the New York Mets, Kansas City and the Yankees.
Mientkiewicz initially retained the ball he caught to end the 2004 Series, but the Red Sox also wanted it and the dispute over the ball's ownership eventually resulted in a lawsuit. The disagreement ended when the ball was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The bonus clauses in Mientkiewicz's contract include $25,000 each for 70 and 80 games, $50,000 each for 90, 100 and 110 games and $75,000 each for 120 and 130 games. He would also make $50,000 each for 275, 300 and 350 plate appearances, $75,000 each for 400 and 450 plate appearances and $100,000 for 500 plate appearances."(http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3241471)


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