Starling Marte signs extension with Pittsburgh Pirates

Left fielder Starling Marte signed a six-year contract extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. The deal is still pending a physical.

Marte’s deal means that he will stay a Pirate through the 2019 season. It covers five years that the Pirates had control over him and one year of free agency. He would have become a free agent in 2018. The deal also includes two club options. The club options would cover two more years if they are used. Marte was going to make $516,000 this season. The deal is worth $31 million, according to CBS Sports, which first reported the story.

Last year was Marte's, who is a native of the Dominican Republic, first full year in the majors. He hit .280 with 12 homeruns, 35 RBI’s, and 41 steals, which was a team-high, according to the Associated Press. He also had 26 doubles, 10 triples, and a 122 OPS. Matre is primarily a center fielder, but moved to left field so that NL MVP Andrew McCutchen could play in center.

Marte isn’t the only outfielder that the Pirates have signed in recent years. They have signed McCutchen and Jose Tabata to six-year deals in recent years. McCutchen’s deal is worth $51.5 million and Tabata’s deal is worth $15.5 million. The Pirates may not be done with signing outfielders. Outfield prospect Gregory Polanco, 22, could join the team in the middle of this year.

Marte is off to a good start this spring. In the Grapefruit League he is hitting .355 going into Wednesday’s game. It will be interesting to see how Marte does in his second year in the majors.