Contract issues keep Kendall with Pirates

Pittsburgh's catcher was nearly a Padre, but San Diego nixed the deal.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Pirates catcher Jason Kendall insists he wasn't distracted by almost being traded to the San Diego Padres this winter and is ready to play another season in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates, who owe Kendall a budget-busting $42 million over the next four seasons, thought they had completed a deal sending Kendall to San Diego for catcher Ramon Hernandez and third baseman Jeff Cirillo.
But Padres owner John Moores vetoed the deal Jan. 13, saying the $24 million owed Kendall for 2006 and 2007 might handcuff the Padres as they sought to sign top free agents the next few years.
California dreamin'
Kendall grew up in San Diego and lives in suburban Los Angeles, and no doubt would have welcomed the chance to play in Southern California. His father, Fred, is a former Padres catcher.
A trade also would have reunited him with one of his best friends, outfielder Brian Giles, who was dealt to San Diego last summer in a deal that also nearly included Kendall.
"There's nothing to really comment on because it never happened," Kendall told reporters upon arriving for spring training. "Rumors are rumors and until something happens, there's nothing to talk about. If somebody was going to trade for me, they'd have had to call me because of my no-trade clause. Nobody ever called me."
Kendall's comments were his first since the trade fell through.
Unless the Pirates work out a trade with another team, Kendall is readying to spend his ninth season with them. He is easily the most-tenured player on the team.
"I'm excited to get the season started and get going again," Kendall said Tuesday.
Kendall said he was occupied during the off-season with the Jan. 2 birth of his first child, Kuyper Chase. His son's name was derived from Duane Kuiper, a Giants announcer and a former teammate of Kendall's father.