BRADENTON, Fl. - Over the off-season, the Pirates signed Chris Stewart to a very team friendly extension. The deal will pay him $3 M guaranteed over the next two years, with a $1.5 M option and a $250,000 buyout in 2018. The maximum deal would amount to three years and $4.25 M.
Putting this in perspective, one win above replacement has been worth at least $7 M on the open market in recent years. Stewart has been worth at least 0.5 WAR every year since 2011. So in one season, he could justify his entire deal, and possibly even the option year.