Pirates sign Jose Tabata to extension

Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com broke some news that came out of nowhere today. According to Rojas, Tabata and the Pirates agreed to an extension that could keep Jose Tabata in Pittsburgh until 2019.

The breakdown of the contract goes like this:

2011: $500,000 plus a $1 million signing bonus

2012: $750,000

2013: $1 million

2014: $3 million

2015: $4 million

2016: $4.5 million

The contract also carries club options for 2017, 2018, and 2019, which would be the first 3 years Tabata would be eligible for free agency. Those 3 options combine to make up an additional $22.5 million if picked up that would be owed to Tabata.

I’ll have a post up following tonight’s game with a reaction to the news, but early signs are showing this is a pretty solid deal for both parties involved.