Soquel Alum Casey McGehee Signs with Pirates

Soquel High graduate and former SCCAL baseball stud Casey McGehee is officially staying put in Pittsburgh this season.

After a tough 2011 campaign, in which he was traded mid-season from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Pittsburgh Pirates, McGehee faced the possible scenario of arbitration, in which player and team meet in a hearing to settle on a contract number. It's a last resort for stubborn sides that doesn't traditionally foster a long-term relationship. 

McGehee's hearing was set for Thursday, but he reached a deal with the club at the last minute to avoid such a scenario. According to the Miami Herald, terms of the Santa Cruz native initially asked for $2.725 million while the club offered $2.35 million for one season. 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that a settlement between those two numbers landed McGehee right at the midpoint of $2,537,500 for one season of service.

If you want to catch the hometown boy in action, McGehee and his Pirates will be in San Francisco from April 13-15 for the Giants' home opening series.