The Pittsburgh Pirates signed outfielder Jeromy Burnitz to a one-year contract with a mutual option for a second year on Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported earlier on Wednesday that Burnitz will make $6 million for the first year and the same for the second year if the mutual option is exercised. Burnitz, who could also earn an additional $250,000 in bonuses each season, would be owed $700,000 if the Pirates decide to buy him out after the 2006 season. The deal is the most lucrative given by the Pirates to a free agent in the club's history. The largest previous free-agent contract given by Pittsburgh was a two-year, $9.75 million deal to Derek Bell in 2001. Last week, the Baltimore Sun reported that Burnitz was close to signing a similar deal with the Orioles. However, the outfielder has changed his mind, deciding not to follow Sammy Sosa for a second time. Burnitz spent the 2005 season with the Chicago Cubs and batted .258 in 160 games with 24 homers and 87 RBI. Chicago signed the 36-year-old to fill the void left by Sosa, who was dealt to the Orioles prior to the 2005 campaign and then released by Baltimore following the season. A left-handed slugger, Burnitz has 299 career homers with 932 RBI and a .255 batting average in his 13 major league seasons. He broke into the big leagues with the New York Mets in 1993 and has also played for Cleveland, Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. An All-Star in 1999 with Milwaukee, Burnitz has reached 30 homers six times in his career, but the free-swinger has struck out almost as many times as he has had hits (1,302 K/1,375 H). To make room for Burnitz on the 40-man roster, the Pirates have designated infielder J.J. Furmaniak for assignment.