Pittsburgh Pirates, Travis Snider Reportedly Agree To One-Year Contract, Avoiding Arbitration
By Matt Gajtka
Jun 2, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (left) high-fives right fielder Travis Snider (23) after Snider drove in the game winning run against the Cincinnati Reds during the eleventh inning at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates won 5-4 in eleven innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Outfielder Travis Snider was one of six Pittsburgh Pirates to file for arbitration Tuesday, but he was the first to avoid it.
According to the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman, Snider and the Pirates agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract Thursday evening, thus eliminating the need to formally start the arbitration process.
Snider, 25, just completed his first full season with the Pirates. Acquired in a July 2012 trade with Toronto, Snider hit a tepid .215/.281/.333 in 111 games last year, producing at a level 25 percent below average for National League right fielders.
2013 was Snider’s worst MLB season since making his Blue Jays debut in 2008, although he battled a persistent toe injury that led to surgery late last year. As recently as 2011, he was considered one of Toronto’s top prospects.
Theoretically, Snider will compete with incumbent Jose Tabata and possibly Andrew Lambo for playing time in right field to start the season, although elite minor-leaguer Gregory Polanco looms as a potential midseason call-up.
Third baseman Pedro Alvarez, second baseman Neil Walker, first baseman Gaby Sanchez and relief pitchers Mark Melancon and Vin Mazzaro also filed for arbitration this week. They must exchange salary proposals with the Pirates by Friday, with hearings scheduled to start Feb. 1, if needed.
Players and teams can come to agreements at any point during January.