January 20, 200422 yr 01/19/2004 10:22 PM ET Pirates sign Wells, Wilson By Ed Eagle / MLB.com PITTSBURGH -- Hours after coming to terms with starting pitcher Kip Wells, the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with a second player Monday night by signing Craig Wilson to a one-year deal. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Wilson hit .266 with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs in 116 games last season while earning $327,000. The versatile 27-year-old slugger made 36 starts at first base, 28 starts in right field, 15 starts behind the plate and seven starts in left field. With the offseason free agent losses of veterans Matt Stairs and Reggie Sanders, Wilson is the team's top remaining power hitter. He is expected to get his first opportunity to play regularly in 2004 after coming off the bench for most of his first three seasons in the big leagues. "We are pleased to come to terms with Craig," said Pirates GM Dave Littlefield. "He's done a nice job in the time that he has been with us and he's given us very solid production. We look forward to seeing if that production can continue as he gets more playing time." "I am glad to get this over with and I'm excited for the start of the season," added Wilson. Earlier Monday, Wells signed on-year deal worth $2,575,000, an increase of more than $2 million from his $370,000 salary in 2003. In 31 starts last season, Wells was 10-9 with a 3.28 ERA while. He was especially strong down the stretch, going 4-1 with a 1.71 ERA in six September starts. Wells, who retuned from his honeymoon just one day before attending minicamp last week, was glad to get the contract negotiations out of the way. "I can't believe how fast it moved," said Wells. "It's been a painless process and I think everybody is happy. "I knew one way or the other the situation with the contract would work itself out. The fact that everyone was willing to put forth an effort to get it done paid off and now we're moving on to bigger and better things." With Wilson and Wells in tow, only shortstop Jack Wilson remains arbitration eligible. The Pirates and representatives for the infielder will exchange salary arbitration figures Tuesday. A starter during each of his three seasons, Wilson established career highs with a .256 batting average, nine home runs and 62 RBIs in 2003 while earning $335,000. Ed Eagle is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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