With pitchers and catchers reporting this week, baseball fans can now turn their attention to spring training and the warmer days ahead.

While some may believe the Pittsburgh Pirates overspent on catcher Russell Martin — two years, $17 million — among others, the team is nowhere near the typical overspending you see in Major League Baseball.

The Pirates also looked to sign one-time ace Francisco Liriano — two-years, $14 million — but an arm injury around the holidays put that deal on hold. The Pirates announced a two-year, $1 million guaranteed deal Saturday, but the contract can still pay Liriano close to the $14 million if he experiences no affects from the injury.

Welcome to the new age of baseball, which still dishes out guaranteed contracts.

The adage goes, “Watch what you wish for, you just might get it.” Now, in baseball, “Watch what you pay for, you might not get rid of it.”

The Seattle Mariners looked to sign its own star pitcher, Felix Hernandez, to an extension. The team was all set to add five years and $135.5 million more to a remaining contract of two years, $39.5 million. All of the sudden, an elbow issue may have slowed down the process.

Hernandez is certainly worth the money — so far. On a Mariners squad that finished last (again) in its division, Hernandez went 13-9 last year with 223 strikeouts and a 3.06 ERA. He has pitched 30-plus games the past seven years, is 98-76 with a 3.22 ERA and 1,487 strikeouts.

However, I’ve never been one to think pitchers should get contracts bigger than three years, especially if you’re looking at paying $18-22 million per year.

A starting pitcher appears just 30-to-32 times a season. Yes, a dominant starter can anchor a staff and provide leadership, but it doesn’t guarantee you a trip to the postseason.

He can attract a crowd — like the Pirates’ A.J. Burnett — on days he pitches, but that’s about it. A rotation needs quality depth and Seattle definitely doesn’t have it.

On the hitting side, you could have made a case with the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, an everyday player at third base and DH. That’s about 160 to 162 games a year if healthy.

When he signed a 10-year, $275 million dollar contract in 2007, he was coming off a monster season (54 HR, 156 RBIs, 143 R, 24 SB, .314 BA, .422 OBP).

Last season, another hip injury dropped him to 18 HR, 57 RBI, 116 K, .272 BA in 463 at-bats and, in the postseason, it got worse (3-for-25, .120 BA, 12 K, zero HR, one RBI, one R).

Oh, and for $30 million.

Now, at age 37, the Yankees are on the hook for five more years and $114 million after hip surgery last month.

Had A-Rod consistently put up his 2007 numbers — or anything close — the Yankees would have felt they got their money’s worth.

Instead, they’ll be paying for it for years with much less production, plus the cost to replace him in the lineup.

The Pirates may be frugal, but they’re getting one aspect right. Clauses in contracts to protect teams from injury will be the new trend — and a less costly one at that.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.