BRADENTON, Fla. -- Over the last two years, Chris Stewart has given the Pirates the stability they've been looking for in a backup catcher. So this offseason, the Pirates gave Stewart the professional stability he's been looking for.
Stewart, who turned 34 on Friday, signed the first guaranteed multi-year contract of his career in January, a two-year pact with a club option for 2018. The deal will pay Stewart $1.35 million in 2016 and $1.4 million in '17, with a $250,000 buyout or $1.5 million option in '18.
"Knowing that I'll be here for more than a year -- hopefully three or more, that's the goal -- that's something I'm not used to," Stewart said.