BRADENTON, Fla. — After signing a multiyear contract extension, Freddy Sanchez is taking no chances about being ready for 2008.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' All-Star second baseman reported with the pitchers and catchers Thursday and has been on the field early each morning since then, taking fielding and batting practice as part of his recovery from minor shoulder surgery in September.

His throwing remains limited, and he took ground balls without making a throw Sunday. He can reach 75 feet in long-tossing and needs to double that before he can be cleared for game action, but he and the Pirates sound confident that that will happen.

"My goal is to get here early, get my work in and be ready for the season," Sanchez said. "No one wants to follow someone who just talks about it. They want to follow someone who leads and does the same things they're being asked to do."

Sanchez, the National League batting champion two seasons ago, signed an extension earlier this month that brings two guaranteed years plus a vested option that could bring him $18.9 million. He had been worried before that the Pirates were looking to trade him or allow him to leave through free agency once he was eligible after the 2009 season.

"Pittsburgh is a place I know I want to be, and I think, when we do start to win, it's going to feel satisfying," Sanchez said. "I've been around for the losing, and now I want to be around for the winning."

The Pirates were 68-94 last season and made few changes to the roster in the interim.

"I know we lost a lot of games last year, but we were put together to win and to contend, and I honestly believe we can do that," he said. "A lot of us underachieved last year, starting with myself, and we can't let that happen again."