The Associated Press has reported that Pirates' pitcher Damaso Marte was in a car accident in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday but did not suffer an serious injures.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed right-hander Hector Carrasco and left-hander Casey Fossum to minor league contracts on Thursday, according to the York Daily Record.

According to the Associated Press, Jaret Wright and the Pirates agreed on a minor-league deal Wednesday, including an invitation to spring training.

The Pirates avoided salary arbitration with Jose Bautista on Thursday by signing the third baseman to a one-year, $1.

Sid Bream, who kept Pittsburgh out of the 1992 World Series by scoring the winning run for Atlanta in Game 7 of the NL playoffs, is rejoining the Pirates as a coach with their Class-A State College farm club.

The Pirates and first baseman Adam LaRoche avoided arbitration yesterday by agreeing to a one-year contract with a base salary of $5 million.

Ian Snell recently approached the Pirates about a long-term contract and was rejected.

The Pirates have approached first baseman Adam LaRoche to discuss a contract that could span three or four years, a signing that would be the franchise's most significant since shortstop Jack Wilson's four-year extension in 2006.

Chris Duffy, the Pirates' opening-day center fielder last season, is still healing from shoulder surgery and might miss part of spring training.

Japanese pitcher Masumi Kuwata has signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the veteran right-hander said on his official Web site Tuesday.

The Pirates have approached closer Matt Capps with a long-term contract offer, but they have pulled back from their other target for such a deal, second baseman Freddy Sanchez.

One reason free-agent catcher Johnny Estrada is interested in signing with the Pirates is a deep respect for new bench coach Gary Varsho, whom he credits for molding him while coming up through the Philadelphia system.

The Pirates finally have added some right-handed relief pitching.