The Pirates signed Atkins to a minor league deal.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Garrett Atkins to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training.  Atkins played for Colorado for seven years, combining for a .289/.354/.457 line in 2788 at-bats.  However, he's been on the decline in recent years.

Atkins had a career year in 2006, with a .329/.409/.556 line and 29 homers in 602 at-bats.  In 2007 he was strong, with a .301/.367/.486 line, and 25 homers in 605 at-bats.  He slipped some in 2008, with a .286/.328/.452 line, and 21 homers in 611 at-bats.  Atkins has bottomed out the last two years, with a .226/.308/.342 line and nine homers in 2009, and a .214/.276/.286 line with one homer in 140 at-bats last year with the Baltimore Orioles.

Atkins could be considered a pr...

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