Wilson, Pirates Agree to Two-Year Contract

All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson and the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided salary arbitration Thursday by agreeing to an $8-million, two-year contract.

Wilson will make $3.4 million in 2005 and $4.6 million in 2006, and he has the chance to earn additional award bonuses.

Wilson’s 201 hits were the most by a Pirate shortstop since Hall of Famer Honus Wagner’s total of 201 in 1908.

Wilson sought a three-year contract that would take him through the remaining years he is eligible for salary arbitration. None of the Pirates’ other five arbitration-eligible players was offered a multiyear contract.

Last season, Wilson hit .308 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs.

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Free-agent second baseman Mark Grudzielanek agreed to a $1-million, one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Grudzielanek, who can earn up to $500,000 in performance bonuses, will replace Tony Womack, who played one season for the Cardinals before signing last month with the New York Yankees.

Grudzielanek, 34, batted .307 with six home runs and 23 RBI in 81 games for the Chicago Cubs last season.

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The Chicago White Sox agreed to a $2.25-million, one-year deal with A.J. Pierzynski.

Pierzynski is a career .294 hitter who has batted above .300 twice and was an All-Star in 2003. Over the last four years, he ranks second among all catchers with 127 doubles, third with a .293 average and seventh with a .438 slugging percentage.

The San Francisco Giants put Pierzynski on waivers last month after signing Mike Matheny.

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Free-agent right-hander Kev- in Millwood and the Cleveland Indians are close to agreement on a $7-million, one-year contract.

Indian General Manager Mark Shapiro said that he and Millwood’s agent, Scott Boras, have made significant progress over the last 48 hours as they work toward finalizing a deal.

“I feel optimistic about it,” Shapiro said.

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Brad Wilkerson agreed to a $3.05-million, one-year contract with the Washington Nationals.

Wilkerson hit .255 with 32 home runs, 67 RBIs, 112 runs scored and 13 stolen bases last season and was voted the team’s MVP. He played 78 games at first base and 76 in the outfield and was frequently used as the leadoff hitter. He led the majors with nine first-inning home runs.

His signing leaves three arbitration-eligible players on the National roster: first baseman Nick Johnson and pitchers Tony Armas Jr. and Tomo Ohka.

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Right-hander Ismael Valdez and the Florida Marlins agreed to a one-year contract.

Valdez, who made $800,000 last season, was 14-9 with a 5.13 ERA for San Diego and Florida; he went 5-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts with the Marlins.

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Catcher Gregg Zaun agreed to a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that guarantees him $1.05 million.

Zaun hit .269 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in 107 games with Toronto last season. He became the No. 1 catcher after Greg Myers’ season-ending ankle injury in late April.

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The Colorado Rockies added depth and experience to their young roster, agreeing to $1.05-million, one-year contracts with outfielder Dustan Mohr and utility player Desi Relaford.

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Former Boston Red Sox catcher Bill Haselman was hired as the team’s bullpen coach, replacing Euclides Rojas.

The Red Sox also agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Josias Manzanillo.