Pirates sign Maholm, Hinske

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Pirates ace lefthander Paul Maholm signed a three-year contract Friday with the National League baseball club.

The deal, which avoided salary arbitration, will pay him a guaranteed $14.5 million -- $3.5 million this season, $4.5 million next season and $5.75 million in 2011.

The four-year veteran went 9-9 in 2008, with a 3.71 ERA and career highs in innings pitched (206 1/3), strikeouts (139) and starts (31).

The Pirates also signed free-agent outfielder Eric Hinske to a one-year, $1.5 million incentive-laden deal.

Hinske, 31, a .254 career hitter with 105 home runs over seven seasons with three American League teams, batted .247 in 2008 with 20 home runs and 60 RBI in 381 at-bats for the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays.

With Hinske's signing, general manager Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he is unlikely to bring back popular utilityman Doug Mientkiewicz.