12/8 From the 1990’s: Lieber, Williams, Mulholland Sign; Casey Deal; Bye BB & Arbs; Salary Blues

• 1992 - The Barry Bonds era ended after playing seven seasons in Pittsburgh when he signed a FA contract with the San Francisco Giants worth a then-record $43.75M over six years, turning down a five year/$36M offer from the Yankees. Bonds' contract with the called for a $2.5M signing bonus and yearly guarantees of $4M, $4.75M, $7.75M, $8M, $8.25M and $8.5M. His sweeteners were a hotel suite when the team was on the road, bonuses for postseason awards and $500,000 deferred from each year's salary at 9% interest, starting in 1999. 

Barry Bonds - 1992 Kenner Starting Lineup

• 1993 - The dismantling of Jim Leyland’s clubs by the Bucco suits starting making its impact. The Post Gazette wrote that “The Pirates Great Salary Unloading seems to have worked. The MLB Player’s Associated reported that the Pirates fell from eighth to 21st in salary average, dropping from $1,206,012 to $761,073.” The Bucs went into 1993 without Barry Bonds, Doug Drabek, John Smiley, Jose Lind, Neal Heaton, Danny Jackson and Steve Buechele, all who had been on the 1992 roster. Bobby Bonilla had left after the 1991 season; Andy Van Slyke would leave after the 1994 campaign. 
• 1997 - The Pirates and RHP Jon Lieber agreed on a two-year contract worth $3.5M, bypassing his first two arbitration seasons. Lieber had 20 wins between 1996-97 to earn the deal, but after 8-14/4.11 1998 campaign, he was traded to the Cubs for OF Brant Brown. The Pirates also signed RHP Mike Williams to a $650K deal; he would spend six seasons off-and-on with the Bucs and save 140 games (including 46 in 2002) while making two All-Star appearances in an up-and-down career that saw him traded twice. 
• 2000 - The Pirates announced the signing of LHP Terry Mulholland from Uniontown and Laurel Highlands HS to a one-year/$2.75M deal, pending his physical (it became official two days later). Terry got into 36 games for the Buccos and put up a 3.72 ERA in ‘01 before being flipped to the LA Dodgers at the deadline for Mike Fetters & minor leaguer Adrian Burnside. For Terry, it was just a couple more frequent traveler miles to add to the collection as he tossed for 11 teams over a 20-year career. 
• 2002 - The Bucs didn’t tender contracts to C Keith Osik, SS Mike Benjamin and RHP Ron Villone. Osik was Pittsburgh’s longest-tenured player with seven years as a Bucco, but hit just .160. Benjamin was an Opening Day starter, as was Villone, but Benji batted just .150 over the campaign while Villone posted a 4-6/5.18 line. 
• 2003 - The Bucs declined to offer salary arbitration, citing expense, to a half-dozen players: P Julian Tavarez, OF Reggie Sanders, OF Matt Stairs, IF Pat Meares, IF Pokey Reese and IF Jeff Reboulet. They all signed with different clubs with deeper pockets. 

Sean Casey - 2006 Pirates Promo

• 2005 - The Reds traded 1B Sean Casey to the Pirates for LHP David Williams. “The Mayor” (he picked up the title in Cincinnati, where Casey was so popular he could have been elected mayor) was beset by injuries, but hit .296 with three home runs and 29 RBIs in 59 games for his hometown Bucs (he graduated from Upper St Clair HS) before being moved to the Tigers at the deadline. Williams won five games over the next two seasons, had surgery for a herniated disk and never returned to the majors while Casey retired after the 2008 campaign.