BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Veteran outfielder Reggie Sanders found his sixth home in as many seasons Tuesday when he officially signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported last week that Sanders was on the verge of signing a $1 million deal with the team.
Sanders hit .250 with 23 homers and 85 RBI with the San Francisco Giants last season, and became a free agent when the National League champions declined a mutual option for 2003.
The well-traveled Sanders played for Cincinnati in 1998, San Diego in 1999, Atlanta in 2000, and Arizona in 2001. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that he was on the verge of signing with the Boston Red Sox.
"I guess you could say that," Sanders told the paper. "The Pirates definitely came out of nowhere. I was on my way to Boston and ended up staying in the National League with Pittsburgh. That was a big thing for me. I didn't want have to learn things all over again in a new league."
He could be used in left field with Brian Giles moving to center, although the Pirates appear to have several outfield options.
Rob Mackowiak was penciled in as Pittsburgh's centerfielder before the signing of Sanders, but various reports claim the Pirates are pursuing another centerfielder, free agent Kenny Lofton.
Sanders, 35, has a .266 career average with 218 homers and 715 RBI in 12 major league seasons.
His signing continued the reshuffling of the Pirates, who traded for first baseman Randall Simon and signed free agent outfielder-first baseman Matt Stairs.
Pitchers Matt Herges and Jeff Suppan were added and the Pirates negotiated minor league deals with pitchers Julian Tavarez, Jeff D'Amico, Rolando Arrojo, Dennys Reyes, Mike Holtz, and Pat Mahomes.
