Pirates, Snell reach accord

By MIKE HENRY
mhenry@bradenton.com

BRADENTON -- Pirates senior vice president and general manager Neal Huntington has announced the team has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Ian Snell on a five-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The first three years are guaranteed, with club options for 2011 and 2012.
The 26-year-old Snell led the Pirates in 2007 in ERA (3.76), strikeouts (177) and innings (208). He won 14 games in 2006 in his first full season in the majors.
Since the start of 2006, Snell ranks sixth among National League pitchers with 346 strikeouts, behind Jake Peavy, Aaron Harang, John Smoltz, Carlos Zambrano and Brandon Webb.
"We are pleased to have reached agreement on a contract that gives us the ability to keep Ian in a Pirates uniform at least through the 2012 season," Huntington said. "This is another example of the organization's commitment to build a championship-caliber club.
"Ian's performance over the past two seasons ranks him among the best young starting pitchers in the game and he will play a crucial role in our success. He wants to win, and it is a credit to him to get this contract."
Snell said he is eager to aid in the team's hoped-for turnaround after a streak of 15 consecutive losing seasons.
"The Pirates gave me my first opportunity, and I want to help bring them back to where they were," he said. "I can only go farther up the ladder from here.
"To me, it's not really about the money -- it's more about winning," he said. "It's a big accomplishment for my family and myself. I'm glad it's done, because I didn't want it to be a distraction for the guys on the team or myself."