According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, Chris Snyder's new contract with the Astros carries a $750,000 salary for 2012 and a $4 million mutual option for 2013 or a $500,000 buyout.

Only $350,000 of his salary for 2012 is guaranteed. The contract includes bonuses for plate appearances and days spent on the active roster. Snyder, who turns 31 next month, was limited to just 34 games in 2011 due to a nagging back condition which required surgery, but still has some pop in his bat. Jason Castro is expected to be ready for the start of the season following foot surgery, but Snyder could be asked to carry a heavier load in the early going.

Astros signed C Chris Snyder to a one-year contract.

No financial terms of the deal are available, but it also includes a mutual option for 2013. Snyder, who will turn 31 next month, played in just 34 games this season due to a serious back issue, but the Astros evidently think he'll be ready for the start of the season. He figures to serve as the primary backstop until Jason Castro (foot) is healthy.

Pirates declined C Chris Snyder's $6.75 million option for 2012.

The Pirates hinted at the move earlier this month. Snyder, 30, played in just 34 games this season due to a serious back issue. $6.75 million was too much.

The Pirates will decline Chris Snyder's $6.75 million option for 2012 at the conclusion of the World Series.

Snyder didn't play another game this season after undergoing surgery on his lower back in June, though he appears to be fully recovered heading into the offseason. Entering the declining stage of his career, he simply hasn't been productive enough to warrant the investment. The club hasn't ruled out re-signing him at a lesser salary, but they will likely move on with in-house options.

The Pirates are expected to decline Chris Snyder's $6.75 million club option for next season.

Snyder made just 119 plate appearances this year due to back surgery. He's not productive enough when healthy for the Pirates to take the nearly $7 million risk.

Chris Snyder (back) will not return this season.

Snyder underwent surgery on his back in early June. He's made significant progress over the past couple of months but simply ran out of time. "The calendar got the best of us," the catcher told reporters on Monday.

Chris Snyder (back surgery) has begun light workouts.

Snyder underwent surgery on his back in early June and isn't expected to be healthy again until the middle of August. He had a .376 OBP through 34 games.

Chris Snyder (back surgery) said Monday that he hopes to return in mid-to-late August.

Snyder is expected to miss anywhere from 2-4 months after undergoing back surgery earlier this month. "Going through the surgery the first time and comparing this one, this blows it out of the water," said Snyder, who previously had back surgery in 2009. "I'm moving around way better, in way less pain, have more motion in my leg. I'm wanting to get back as soon as possible." Ryan Doumit is currently recovering from a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle, so the Pirates will continue to rely on Michael McKenry and Dusty Brown behind the plate for now.

Chris Snyder and his wife were recently the victims of a violent road rage incident.

Snyder's wife Carla was driving at the time since Chris just underwent back surgery. She apparently angered 44-year-old Subhash Arjanbhi Modhwadia, who believed he was cut off while riding on his scooter. He followed them to a gas station, kicked the vehicle, took a swing at Carla and even ripped a mirror off the car. Modhwadia was eventually subdued by a Good Samaritan and an off-duty city police officer. Fortunately no physical harm was done to the Snyder family.

Chris Snyder (recovery from back surgery) will be sidelined for 2-to-4 months.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said earlier on Friday that the team is optimistic Snyder's season is not through, and this would obviously jibe with that. Although it's good news for Snyder, he should remain out of sight, out of mind in fantasy leagues for the rest of 2011.

Pirates placed C Chris Snyder on the 15-day disabled list with lower back tightness.

This is his second stint on the disabled list this season due to a lower back injury. The 32-year-old backstop is batting .271/.376/.396 with three homers and 17 RBI over 119 plate appearances this season, but it's clear that he's always going to be a health risk. A less-than-inspiring tandem of Dusty Brown and Wyatt Toregas will share catching duties during his absence.

The Pirates are expected to place Chris Snyder (back) on the disabled list.

Snyder left Wednesday's game with a lower back tightness, the same injury that forced him to begin the season on the disabled list. Ryan Doumit will likely get most of the starts behind the plate during his absence while Wyatt Toregas is expected to be called up from the minor leagues.

Chris Snyder went 2-for-3 at the plate in Tuesday's loss to the Braves.

He had two of just six hits -- all singles -- on the night for the Pirates against Jair Jurrjens and the mighty late-inning duo of Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel. Snyder is batting just .246/.329/.333 with one homer and the year and entered the game on a 2-for-19 slide at the plate. We'll see if this two-hit game gets him going.

Chris Snyder hit his first homer Monday versus the Padres.

Snyder certainly won't maintain his current .317 average, but he does have power, and now that he's playing over Ryan Doumit most of the time, he could be good for 10 homers this year.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Pirates are not eager to trade Chris Snyder.

Specifically, their demands may be higher than other teams will be willing to pay. For example, the Red Sox like the 30-year-old backstop -- along with free agent Bengie Molina and Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez -- but they are unlikely to part with a significant prospect in a trade, as Snyder is owed $5.75 million this season and has a $750,000 buyout on his option for 2012.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle indicated that Chris Snyder will be eased back into the starting lineup.

Snyder was back in the lineup Thursday after starting the year on the DL with a back ailment. "I haven't drawn anything up on paper," Hurdle said. "I know that we're not going to put the whip to Chris anytime soon. If he catches back-to-back days, I would envision he'd probably have a day off after that just until he can build up some endurance." Ryan Doumit will catch on days where Snyder doesn't play, and it sounds like the at-bats will be split pretty evenly, at least initially.

Chris Snyder will make his season debut in Thursday's game against the Brewers.

Snyder was activated from the disabled list following Wednesday's game. He'll bat seventh against left-hander Randy Wolf.

Pirates activated C Chris Snyder from the 15-day disabled list.

Snyder hit .400 with a home run in six rehab games, showing he was ready. He'll serve as the primary catcher for the Pirates, though Ryan Doumit figures to get a couple starts per week.

Chris Snyder (back) caught nine innings Sunday and was the designated hitter Monday in his rehab assignment with High-A Bradenton.

Snyder is 7-for-16 with a home run and eight RBI over the first five games of his rehab assignment. He'll likely be activated from the disabled list sometime in the next few days, which means Jason Jaramillo will go back to Triple-A.

Chris Snyder (back) went 3-for-3 with a home run and six RBI in Friday's rehab game with High-A Bradenton.

He's not expected to be activated Saturday, the first day he's eligible, but it should happen shortly. When Snyder is ready, Jason Jaramillo is likely to be optioned to Triple-A.