Major League Baseball

OF Church signs one-year deal with Pirates

Published Jan. 12, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Wednesday they have signed outfielder Ryan Church to a one-year contract.

The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President and General Manager Neal Huntington a day after FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi reported there was a preliminary agreement on a $1.5 million, one-year guaranteed contract that could pay  an additional $1.32 million in performance bonuses.

Church, 31, was bothered by a sore back while hitting .273 with four home runs and 40 RBIs in 111 games with the Braves and Mets last season. He also has had multiple concussions.

The Pirates expect Church to go into the season as their fourth outfielder. He also provides depth in case their top outfield prospect, Jose Tabata, does not reach the majors this season.

A left-handed hitter, Church batted .272 with 15 home runs, 43 doubles and 70 RBIs in 144 games with Washington in 2007. He was traded to the Mets after that season in a deal involving Lastings Milledge, now the Pirates' starting left fielder.

Atlanta did not tender a contract to Church because, by going to arbitration, he likely would have received a raise from the $2.8 million he made last season.

The Pirates also agreed to minor league contracts with right-hander Brian Bass, catcher Luke Carlin and outfielder-first baseman Brian Myrow. Bass, 28, was 5-3 with a 4.90 ERA while pitching 86 1/3 innings for Baltimore last season, the second most among AL relievers. Carlin played in 10 games with Arizona last season and 36 games with San Diego in 2008.

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