Published: Nov. 21, 2011 at 7:22 PM

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 21 (UPI) — Free-agent shortstop Clint Barmes has agreed to a 2-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced Monday.

Barmes, who comes to the Pirates from Houston, hit 12 homers and drove in 39 runs while batting .244 in 123 games last season with the Astros. He posted a .978 fielding percentage while committing only 12 errors in 539 chances.

“With the signing of Clint Barmes, we have added an above-average defensive shortstop who will bring quality experience and reliability to the club on the playing field as well as a positive veteran presence in the clubhouse,” Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington said.

Barmes, who has spent most of his career with Colorado, has totaled 61 homers, 131 doubles and 285 RBI with a .254 average for his career.

PITTSBURGH, PA. The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with shortstop Clint Barmes.

The two-year deal, worth about $10.5 million US, reunites Barmes with Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. The two worked together in Colorado from 2003-09.

The 33-year-old Barmes is a .252 lifetime hitter, with 73 home runs and 324 RBI. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with Colorado before moving to Houston last season. Barmes hit .244 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 123 games last season for Houston.

He’ll immediately step in as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. The Pirates let go veteran Ronny Cedeno after the season and Chase d’Arnaud hit just .217 in 48 games.

To make room for Barmes on the roster, the Pirates designated catcher Brian Jeroloman for assignment.

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with shortstop Clint Barmes.

The two-year deal, worth about $10.5 million, reunites Barmes with Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. The two worked together in Colorado from 2003-09.

The 33-year-old Barmes is a .252 lifetime hitter, with 73 home runs and 324 RBI. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with Colorado before moving to Houston last season. Barmes hit .244 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 123 games last season for Houston.

He’ll immediately step in as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. The Pirates let go veteran Ronny Cedeno after the season and Chase d’Arnaud hit just .217 in 48 games.

To make room for Barmes on the roster, the Pirates designated catcher Brian Jeroloman for assignment.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with shortstop Clint Barmes.

The two-year deal, worth about $10.5 million, reunites Barmes with Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. The two worked together in Colorado from 2003-09.

The 33-year-old Barmes is a .252 lifetime hitter, with 73 home runs and 324 RBI. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with Colorado before moving to Houston last season. Barmes hit .244 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 123 games last season for Houston.

He’ll immediately step in as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. The Pirates let go veteran Ronny Cedeno after the season and Chase d’Arnaud hit just .217 in 48 games.

To make room for Barmes on the roster, the Pirates designated catcher Brian Jeroloman for assignment.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BRADENTON — The Pittsburgh Pirates begin their 44th spring training in Bradenton with a Black and Gold intrasquad game 1:05 p.m. Friday, March 2, at McKechnie Field, the first of 16 games to be played at the venerable ballpark this spring.

The Pirates open their Grapefruit League schedule March 3 in Dunedin to play the Toronto Blue Jays, and meet the Blue Jays again March 4 in their Grapefruit League home-opener.

All games start at 1:05 p.m. with the exception of the March 26 game against Baltimore, which begins at 7:05 p.m.

The Pirates will play seven home games against playoff teams, including three with the Tampa Bay Rays (March 17, March 22 and March 20) and two against the Philadelphia Phillies (March 12 and March 16).

The New York Yankees come to Bradenton on March 6, and the Detroit Tigers will be there March 23.

The Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros and the Orioles, the latter of whom play their home games at nearby Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, will also make trips to McKechnie.

The Pirates set an attendance record at McKechnie last spring, drawing 88,003 fans and averaging a record 5,500 in 16 home games.

One team not on the schedule is State College of Florida, which has played the Pirates 12 times in an annual charity game and defeated them in 2010.

“It doesn’t fit on the schedule as of now,” said Trevor Gooby, the Pirates director of Florida operations. “We are still working on trying to do something.”

Portions of the proceeds from the Black and Gold Game, which is included in the Pirates’ spring season-ticket package, will go toward the Manatee Education Foundation.

(Sports Network) – Rookie left-hander Jeff Locke makes the third start of his
career tonight when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the visiting Cincinnati Reds
in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park.

A second-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2006, Locke was 8-10 in 28
appearances in the minors this season, posting a 3.70 earned run average and
striking out 139 batters in 153 1/3 innings.

He made his initial big-league start at home against Florida on Sept. 10 and
took a 3-0 loss, then returned six days later for a 7-2 loss to the Dodgers in
Los Angeles.

In eight combined big-league innings, Locke has allowed 10 hits and six runs
while walking six and striking out one.

The Reds start 28-year-old Edinson Volquez, who’s lost three consecutive
starts.

The former National League All-Star, who last won on June 29 at Tampa Bay, was
sent to the minors after an 8-1 loss in St. Louis on July 5. He returned for a
4-1 loss at Colorado on Sept. 11 and was tagged for five runs and six hits in
6 2/3 innings of a 10-1 loss to Milwaukee on Sept. 17.

Volquez is 1-0 in six career starts against the Pirates with a 3.44 ERA.

On Wednesday in Cincinnati, Bronson Arroyo tossed his first shutout in over
two years, as the Reds handled the Houston Astros, 2-0, in the rubber match of
a three-game series.

Arroyo (9-12) gave up six hits and recorded his first shutout since August
2009. The right-hander struck out two and did not issue a walk in his first
win this season since Aug. 24.

Miguel Cairo hit a solo homer for the Reds, who finished their 2011 home
schedule with a 42-39 mark. Chris Heisey had an RBI single in the first
inning.

In Phoenix, Miguel Montero went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, as the Arizona
Diamondbacks hung on to defeat the Pirates, 8-,5 in the rubber match of a
three-game set.

Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf (1-3) was chased from the game in the third
frame when he loaded the bases without recording an out. He went two-plus
innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits and two walks.

Derrek Lee continued to swing a hot bat for Pittsburgh, going 3-for-4 with a
home run and two RBI.

Pittsburgh is 8-4 versus the Reds this season.

The Sports Network