PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have cut off contract talks with shortstop Jack Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez after the player didn’t respond to multiyear offers, increasing the chances the double-play duo will be traded before the season ends.

Discussions could resume if the players’ agents make counter proposals, but Pirates general manager Neal Huntington cautioned the team will not move far off the two-year offers made last week. The players believe the money is so below market value, there is no reason to negotiate unless the Pirates substantially upgrade the dollars. “We’ve not received a counter at his point, so for our minds, they’re not interested even in the foundation we’ve laid,” Huntington said Sunday. “Typically in a negotiation you get a counter offer and that’s how conversations continue, and we haven’t gotten that.”

Click here to read the full article – By of Associated Press

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The Pittsburgh Pirates aim to keep shortstop Jack Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez.

With Major League Baseball’s July 31 trade deadline looming, the middle infielders were approached recently by the Pirates about multiyear contract extensions, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. According to the report, Wilson and Sanchez are good friends to the point that each player’s signing is contingent on the other signing a deal.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

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While the Pirates attempt to head into the All-Star break on a winning note Sunday, second baseman Freddy Sanchez knows he will not get the next three days off. That is just fine with him.

Sanchez will be making his third trip to the Midsummer Classic for Tuesday night’s game in St. Louis. Sanchez made the team in 2006 and ‘07 before missing last year’s contest as he played through a shoulder injury for much of the season. Now he is healthy and will attempt to notch his first All-Star hit after going 0-for-2 in ‘06 and hitless in his lone ‘07 at-bat

Click here to read the full article – By of MLB.com

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Tuesday’s 3-0 victory against the Cubs gave the Pittsburgh Pirates their first winning June (14-13) since 1996.

Even so, beginning the day six games under .500 and in last place, six games out in the NL Central, the Pirates became the first team to raise the white flag in 2009. For the second time in less than a month, the Pirates dealt a starting outfielder for players they hope can help them down the road. It’s wait ’til next year — again — for a franchise that hasn’t won since the days of Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla and Doug Drabek.

Click here to read the full article – By Seth Livingstone of USA Today

Pittsburgh Pirates Sports Memorabilia
and other Pittsburgh Pirates Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Freddy Sanchez.