[Jake]

It's a miracle...well, in Pirates terms, anyway.

In a sharp reversal, the Pirates and center fielder Nate McLouth this morning agreed to terms on a three-year contract -- plus a club option for a fourth -- that avoided an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for this afternoon in Phoenix.

McLouth's multiyear contract means the Pirates succeeded in all three of their offseason multiyear targets, including pitcher Paul Maholm and catcher Ryan Doumit, moves that solidify what management believes will be the core of the franchise for years to come. In all three cases, at least one year of free agency was bought up by the team.

McLouth, 27, enjoyed a breakout 2008 with a .276 average, 26 home runs, 94 RBIs, 23 steals, a Gold Glove and an All-Star appearance at Yankee Stadium.

Recent history suggests Nate will either regress terribly or get traded for prospects within 18 months. We'll see.

Pirates, McLouth reach long-term deal - PBC Blog - post-gazette.com