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| PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Outfielder Jody Gerut signed an $875,000, one-year contract Tuesday with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made $356,200 last season for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs and Pirates. He was dealt by Chicago to Pittsburgh for outfielder Matt Lawton on July 31, but a knee injury limited Gerut to 18 at-bats with the Pirates. Gerut, expected to compete for the right field job, could make an additional $75,000 in bonuses based on plate appearances. He batted .253 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 170 at-bats overall. He hit .279 with 22 homers and 75 RBIs in 127 games with Cleveland as a rookie in 2003. He had been eligible for salary arbitration. |