Utley's contract may pay dividends for Sanchez

The Bucs infielder is about to receive a tremendous pay raise.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pirates third baseman Freddy Sanchez won the NL batting championship last season with a .344 average, yet was paid less than one-half of one percent of Phillies infielder Chase Utley's new contract.
A case of cross-state checkbook envy, perhaps?
"I don't know how other people look at it but, to me, it was a great contract for a great player," Sanchez said Friday. "Good for him."
Perhaps bad for the Pirates' finances, though.
Utley's 85 million, seven-year contract was settled just before the Pirates started talking to Sanchez about a two-year contract.
While Utley hits for more power -- he had 32 homers to Sanchez's six -- Sanchez is a better all-around hitter and his 85 RBIs last season compare favorably to Utley's 102.
Possible arbitration
Sanchez and the Pirates could go to arbitration on a one-year contract, and the infielder would make either the 3.1 million he wants or the 2.15 million the Pirates are offering. He earned 342,000 last season.
Whether the Utley contract pushes the Pirates into agreement on a two-year contract remains to be seen.
"I can't really talk too much about it. I respect the organization too much and the process too much to say anything," Sanchez said. "We'll figure it out. Something will be done before spring training and that's all that matters."
A year ago, Pirates outfielder Jason Bay chose to sign an 18.25 million, four-year deal that covered his remaining arbitration-eligible seasons. He risked missing the salary escalation that has taken place this offseason, but guaranteed himself long-term financial security.
"I don't regret it at all," Bay said. "I got some security, and that was the tradeoff -- you're going to give up a little to get a little. I knew that from the get-go, and that's part of the game."
Utley's big-dollar deal illustrates how the marketplace has changed in a short time. But if Bay hadn't agreed to the longer contract, he couldn't have played last season with the peace of mind that he was set financially should a bad injury occur.
"I applaud all the guys who go out and make that kind of money and, hopefully, someday, it will get back to me," Bay said. "It is nice to see as a player -- it puts a smile on your face -- but I'll deal with that when I get there."
Price to pay
Should Sanchez go to arbitration, he is determined not to let the negative arguments the Pirates will make get to him. Only two Pirates players, Jeff King in 1993 and current shortstop Jack Wilson in 2004, have gone to arbitration in the last 15 years.
Wilson came out of the process a little roughed up, but won his case.
"As much as I don't like it, there is a business side to baseball, and this is it," Sanchez said. "You've got to have thick skin through this process and I don't take anything personal. [Former Pirates first baseman] Sean Casey said he kind of wishes everybody would go through it, to get the experience and see how it is. That's fine with me."
The Pirates, meanwhile, unveiled on Friday their new red alternate home jersey top. They introduced red into their black and gold color scheme for the 1994 All-Star game, but had gotten away from using the color during recent seasons.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.