Simon back with Pirates

[WebHamster]

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - First baseman Randall Simon is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates after signing a one-year contract with the team on Thursday. The deal also includes a club option for 2005.

Simon played 91 games for Pittsburgh last season before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Ray Sadler on August 17, 2003. He then participated in 33 regular-season contests for Chicago, finishing the campaign with a combined .276 batting average to go along with 16 homers and 72 RBI.

In 10 postseason games for the Cubs in 2003, Simon hit .333 with one homer and six runs batted in.

Simon was also involved in a well-publicized incident at Miller Park on July 9 when he hit one of the Brewers' sausage mascots with his bat during the sixth inning of a game against Milwaukee. He received a three-game suspension and was fined $432 for disorderly conduct.