Maholm Inks Three Year Deal

The Pirates have signed starting pitcher Paul Maholm to a three-year contract, reported the PBC Blog. Financial terms are not yet available, but the deal does contain a club option for a fourth year. The contract covers all three arbitration-eligible years for Maholm and his first year of free agency, provided the option is exercised. The Pirates now have starters Maholm and Ian Snell, closer Matt Capps, second baseman Freddy Sanchez and catcher Ryan Doumit signed through at least 2010. Other potentially key players such as Tom Gorzelanny and Nate McLouth will not be eligible for free agency until after 2011 at the earliest. Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson can be free agents after this coming season, and if either make it through this year while still members of the Pirates, they most certainly will not be retained.

So now we're kind of getting a better idea how the team will look in 2010, 2011 and 2012, which is when, if things go as hoped, we will see the likes of Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata and Pedro Alvarez in Pittsburgh. Since we're on the subject, let's take a look at a potential starting lineup for the 2011 Pirates: McCutchen CF, Sanchez 2B, McLouth LF, Doumit C, Alvarez 3B, Tabata RF, Neil Walker/Andy LaRoche/Steve Pearce 1B, Jordy Mercer/Brian Bixler?? SS. Okay, so that's not a bad looking lineup, at least based on what we all kind of expect from the few youngsters who have not yet made it to the majors. So clearly predicting who will play first base in two years is a bit of a crap shoot. It could even be Alvarez, with Walker at third. Shortstop is a tough one too. Maybe Mercer or Chase D'Arnaud will end up being viable. I doubt Bixler will be. Of course this is two years off and many things will change. One other change that could take place is second base. If the Pirates do not have significant improvement this year and next, keeping Sanchez and his contract might not seem too prudent to management, even if there are not any obvious replacements for him. I'm a huge Freddy Sanchez fan (and I'm not just saying that because I invested $100 in Freddy Sanchez apparel) and I would love to see him stick around, but realistically, it's doubtful.

Well, I'm not quite sure how a piece on Maholm's new contract turned into a preview of the 2011 starting lineup. Anyway, congratulations to Paul Maholm and I wish him continued success in 2009 and beyond.