McLouth among 5 players settling in arbitration

[February 18, 2009]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Nate McLouth agreed to a $15.75 million, three-year contract, one of five deals announced Tuesday among players remaining in salary arbitration.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion reached a $7.6 million, two-year deal, while Kansas City first baseman Mike Jacobs ($3,275,000), Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier ($3.1 million) and Arizona infielder-outfielder Conor Jackson ($3.05 million) struck one-year agreements.

Players hold a 2-1 advantage over clubs in decided cases, with Florida second baseman Dan Uggla ($5.35 million) and Washington pitcher Shawn Hill ($775,000) winning, and Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro ($2.1 million) losing.

Five cases remain unsettled. Two players each are left from Atlanta (pitcher Mike Gonzalez and outfielder Jeff Francoeur) and Washington (outfielder Josh Willingham and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman), and they have hearings scheduled for this week.

In addition, the hearing for Tampa Bay third baseman Willy Aybar was postponed last week, making it likely the sides are closing in on a deal.

McLouth hit .276 last season with 26 home runs and 94 RBIs. He was on the NL All-Star team and won a Gold Glove in center field.

He gets a $1.5 million signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this year, $4.5 million in 2010 and $6.5 million in 2011. Pittsburgh has a $10.65 million option for 2012 with a $1.25 million buyout.

"We agreed to the deal because we believe in Nate and believe we're going to feel as strongly four years from now as we do today," general manager Neal Huntington said. "We get cost certainty as we move forward. The player certainly gets the security of the money that's coming his way. He can go out and relax and play and we can build around him."

Encarnacion receives an $850,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this year and $4.75 million in 2010.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.