Left-hander Paul Maholm avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing Friday to a $14. 

The Pirates are expected to turn a double play of signings today, with top pitcher Paul Maholm on a three-year contract extension and outfielder Eric Hinske on a one-year contract out of free agency. 

The Pirates have approached free-agent outfielders Eric Hinske and Luis Gonzalez, with Hinske appearing to have the better chance of signing. 

The Pirates have approached free-agent outfielders Eric Hinske and Luis Gonzalez, with Hinske appearing to have the better chance of signing. 

The Pirates have two players remaining in salary arbitration, and the differences in what they are asking and what the club is offering are nearly identical. 

--1B Adam LaRoche was one of four Pirates players who settled their arbitration cases by signing one-year contracts just before both sides were set to exchange salary figures for a potential hearing. 

The roster underwent major surgery in late July when RF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte were traded to the Yankees and LF Jason Bay was dealt to the Red Sox, with the net return being eight young players of varying experience levels. 

The Pirates have two players remaining in salary arbitration, and the differences in what they are asking and what the club is offering are nearly identical. 

--1B Adam LaRoche was one of four Pirates players who settled their arbitration cases by signing one-year contracts just before both sides were set to exchange salary figures for a potential hearing. 

The roster underwent major surgery in late July when RF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte were traded to the Yankees and LF Jason Bay was dealt to the Red Sox, with the net return being eight young players of varying experience levels. 

The Pirates have approached free-agent outfielders Eric Hinske and Luis Gonzalez, with Hinske appearing to have the better chance of signing. 

If there is a familiar feel to the statistics of Virgil Vasquez, the pitcher the Pirates claimed off waivers yesterday from the Detroit Tigers, there probably is a reason: They sound quite a bit like those of Josh Fogg, good and bad. 

If there is a familiar feel to the statistics of Virgil Vasquez, the pitcher the Pirates claimed off waivers yesterday from the Detroit Tigers, there probably is a reason: They sound quite a bit like those of Josh Fogg, good and bad. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed right-hander Virgil Vasquez off waivers from the San Diego Padres on Monday. 

--1B Adam LaRoche was one of four Pirates players who settled their arbitration cases by signing one-year contracts just before both sides were set to exchange salary figures for a potential hearing.