Pirates Sign Sanchez to Extension; World Becomes Better Place

Today the Pirates have signed 2-time All Star Freddy Sanchez to a contract extension that could last through the 2010 season. The deal calls for 4 million this year, 6.1 million in 2009 and an option for 2010 at 8 million which the team can exercise or it could become automatic if Sanchez makes 635 plate appearances in 2009. The second baseman stud also gets a few hundred thousand as a signing bonus. [All contract details courtesy of ESPN.com]

Not only does this make my recently purchased Freddy Sanchez jersey worth more emotionally (or even spiritually), this does improve the team. The Pirates have no clear cut heir apparent to Sanchez in the minors, so us loyal fans know that we're going to be seeing at least one great player in the lineup every day. (Shortstop Jack Wilson and Left Fielder Jason Bay are signed through 2009, but Sanchez is the most likely of the three to last that long in Pittsburgh, and this piece is about him anyway, so that's why I'm singling him out as the "great player.")

I'm very excited by this move and I hope other fans are too. Maybe this could lead to a slight attendance increase, more player contract extensions, and in only a few more years, a winning record.