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The Pirates and National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez are close to agreement on a two-year contract.

And that might be one of two significant, surprising moves for the team.

Management is involved in discussions with right-handed starter Jeff Weaver, the most prominent pitcher remaining in free agency, a source close to Weaver said last night. Agent Scott Boras did not return phone calls the past two days, but it has become known that the Pirates are one of a handful of teams pursuing Weaver, with the St. Louis Cardinals being another and, possibly, the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners in the mix, too.

It is believed that Weaver's offers are in the range of two years for markedly less than the $8,325,000 he made last season. That should be affordable for the Pirates, who are projected to have about $11 million remaining in leftover money toward next season.

Weaver, 30, was 8-14 with a 5.76 ERA for St. Louis last season, but he also was the winning pitcher in the Cardinals' decisive Game 5 victory against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series and had a 2.43 ERA in five postseason starts.

Perhaps just as important, he has a positive history with manager Jim Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn. In 2004-05 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Weaver was a combined 27-24.

Regarding Sanchez: Two sources last night confirmed that, because the Pirates and their third baseman had reached a stalemate on negotiations for a one-year contract, the team has abandoned its long-standing refusal to make him a multiyear offer.

Sanchez, 28, is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time after batting .344 last season and making $342,000. On Jan. 16, he and the Pirates exchanged salary figures on a one-year contract, Sanchez submitting a $3.1 million salary figure and the team $2.15 million. That $950,000 gap did not come close to the satisfaction of either side, prompting management to propose a two-year contract with an aim toward long-term savings.

Arbitration hearings are in early February, and the parties can settle amicably at any point before their scheduled hearing. But enough progress has been made this week that each side is expressing optimism that a deal could be sealed today or tomorrow.

The Pirates own Sanchez's rights for the next three years through the arbitration process.

The team has four other players with arbitration hearings pending. New first baseman Adam LaRoche had his case transferred from the Atlanta Braves after the trade last week. The others are outfielder Jody Gerut, second baseman Jose Castillo and reliever John Grabow.

LaRoche's contract will be the most expensive. He submitted $3.7 million to Atlanta's $2.8 million. The Pirates are limiting their discussions with LaRoche to a one-year contract.