Pirates place rookie Alvarez on restricted list

Aug 27, 2008 - 7:24 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Pedro Alvarez, the No. 2 pick in June's draft, on the restricted list Wednesday after he refused to sign the contract he agreed upon August 15.

Alvarez's agent, Scott Boras, informed the Pirates that they want to renegotiate the contract and are looking for more than the $6 million signing bonus to which was previously agreed.

Boras is claiming the contract was not agreed upon before the deadline and therefore is not valid.

"The major league rules provide that a player who refuses to sign a uniform player contract to which he has agreed and report to the signing club shall, upon a report of the signing club, be placed on the restricted list until he signs a contract reflecting the terms to which he has agreed," Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement.

"Regrettably, we are not surprised that Mr. Boras would attempt to raise a meritless legal claim in an effort to compel us to renegotiate Pedro's contract to one more to his liking. We are, however, disappointed that Pedro would allow his agent to pursue this claim on his behalf."

Alvarez helped Vanderbilt win its first Southeastern Conference regular-season title in 2007, hitting .397 with 17 home runs and 65 RBI.