PITTSBURGH -- Middle reliever Brian Meadows and the
Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a $1.125 million, one-year contract
Wednesday, avoiding arbitration. The right-hander was 2-4 with a 5.08 ERA in 68 appearances last
season, the first time in his seven-year career that he didn't
start a game. He made $625,000 in base salary and $145,000 in
bonuses. The 29-year-old Meadows is 41-55 in his career with the Marlins,
Padres, Royals and Pirates. He is 5-11 since joining Pittsburgh in
2002. The Pirates have four remaining arbitration-eligible players:
first baseman-outfielder Craig Wilson, utilityman Rob Mackowiak and
right-handed starters Kip Wells and Josh Fogg. All four were
offered one-year contracts. Pittsburgh signed All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson to an $8
million, two-year deal last week. Meadows is attending a voluntary, five-day minicamp for pitchers
and catchers that began Wednesday at the Pirates' spring training
complex in Bradenton, Fla. The only players not expected to attend
are left-hander Mark Redman, recently acquired from Oakland in the
Jason Kendall trade, and 38-year-old closer Jose Mesa.
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