Pirates and Tabata Talking Extension

by Matt Shetler

After the solid first four months of the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, many skeptics still remained. Skeptical of the front office that is. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard, “Yeah, but we won’t sign any of these guys. We will just trade them,” well I would have a whole lot of nickles.

Signing top two draft picks Gerrit Cole and Josh Bell apparently isn’t enough for some people. Neither is the fact that the Bucs have spent more than any other MLB franchise the past four season’s when it comes to the draft. The skeptics want to see the Bucs sign their current major league talent and keep them in a Pirates uniform. The Pirates may have a way to silence some of then critics soon as they are nearing a contract extension with one of the outfielders.

Just not that outfielder.

While everyone is waiting on the day that the Bucs and Andrew McCutchen reach a contract extension, the franchise is taking a positive step towards the future by nearing a six-year deal with outfielder Jose Tabata.

Both MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes and Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com reported the talks between the two this afternoon.

The five-year, $16.5 mil deal that Minnesota Twins outfielder recently signed looks like it was a starting point between the two sides. The deal would run through 2016 and include contract restructuring for 2011, according to Rojas. Such a deal would cover Tabata’s three remaining pre-arbitration seasons and his three arbitration seasons.

In his second MLB season, Tabata has combined to hit .285 with eight homers and 52 RBI to go along with 33 stolen bases.

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