"The Pirates' offer to shortstop Jack Wilson was for two years, $8.6 million, including a buyout on an option year, according to a major-league source.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington might be correct that Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez will get less than the team offered on the free-agent market. But Wilson cannot be certain that is the case, and he would have a better chance to win with another club.

The baseline for Wilson is Orlando Cabrera, who signed a one-year, $4 million free-agent deal with the A's last offseason.

Wilson, who turns 32 on Dec. 29, is nearly three years younger than Cabrera and a much better defender. Cabrera is a slightly better hitter — his career OPS is .718, while Wilson's is .687."