Snell was also hopeful he and the Pirates might be able to work out a multiyear contract extension although the 26-year-old is not eligible for salary arbitration until after this season or free agency until following the 2011 season.
"I want to take things up a notch this season," Snell said. "I want to reach the point where I can be out there playing around with the hitters instead of being in a situation where I'm letting the hitters force the issue."
Snell has certainly showed flashes of being a potential ace during his two full seasons in the major leagues. He was 14-11 with a 4.74 ERA in 32 starts in 2006, then 9-12 with a 3.76 ERA in 32 starts last season.
"I want to be more consistent this season," Snell said. "I think consistency is a big key for me."
Snell has a live fastball for a pitcher who is charitably listed at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds. His slider can also be an unhittable pitch, as it breaks so much that hitters often confuse it for a curveball.
Now, Snell wants to perfect his changeup as a way to give hitters something else to think about. He has not been able to consistently throw the change for strikes in his career and has often telegraphed the pitch by having a different arm speed on it than on his fastball.
The Pirates have offered a long-term contract to Snell that would buy out his arbitration years. Snell is excited about the possibility even if the franchise hasn't had a winning season 1992.
"There was a time when I didn't want to stay here and I couldn't wait to leave, but things are different since the ownership change last year," said Snell, referring to Bob Nutting taking control of the franchise from Kevin McClatchy. "I love the fans and playing in that beautiful ballpark (PNC Park).
"I really think things are going to start to turn around. I want to be in Pittsburgh when we win. I want to be part of it."
Snell will have to wait for that long term deal after developments on Monday.
Zach Duke got a pay cut and Ian Snell did not get the long-term deal he wanted Monday, when the Pirates handed out contracts to 28 players.
Duke's salary was slashed by $10,000. The left-hander, who is coming off a disastrous 2007 season, will make $400,000 this year.
Today is the deadline for teams to finalize contracts with players who have less than three years of major-league experience. A team may unilaterally decide the salary of such a player, as long as it meets the major-league minimum of $390,000.
--RHP Byung-Hyun Kim made his Grapefruit League debut Monday, retiring three of the four Phillies he faced. The other batter was 1B Ryan Howard, who hit a home run. Kim is trying to earn a bullpen job with the Pirates.
--LHP Sean Burnett has been told he is competing for a job in the bullpen after making 147 of his 150 professional appearances as a starting pitcher since being the Pirates' first-round draft pick in 2000. Burnett has not pitched in the major leagues since 2004, as he has undergone reconstructive elbow and shoulder surgery and spent the past two season at Class AAA Indianapolis. Burnett allowed just one run in four innings in his first three spring games.
--RF Xavier Nady has been drawing trade interest from both the Mets and Padres. While the Pirates would be amenable to trading Nady in order to open up right field for rookie 1B/OF Steve Pearce, they will not make a deal unless they get fair value in return. Pearce, however, is likely to open the season in the minors unless the Pirates have an everyday job for him, GM Neal Huntington said.
--LHP Daniel Moskos is being moved from the bullpen to the rotation. The Pirates' first-round draft pick last year, Moskos had no record, one save and a 3.45 ERA last year in rookie ball and low Class A as a 21-year-old.
--OF Nyjer Morgan seems to be holding a very slim lead over OF Nate McLouth in the competition to be the center fielder and leadoff hitter. Morgan went 7-for-26 (.269) with two stolen bases in his first eight spring games. McLouth was 3-for-14 (.214) with one home run and two steals in his first five games.
--RHP Josh Sharpless and C Carlos Maldonado were reassigned to minor league camp, and Pirates officials did not disguise their displeasure at both players, who have logged time in the major leagues each of the past two seasons, reporting to spring training out of shape. Sharpless allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings in two relief appearances this spring, while Maldonado went 0-for-1 in his lone exhibition game.
--LHP Phil Dumatrait's longshot bid to unseat LHP Zach Duke in the rotation took a hit on Sunday when he gave up five runs in four innings. Dumatrait, claimed off waivers from Cincinnati last October, allowed only one run in five innings in his first two starts.
--LHP Damaso Marte, who had been sidelined with the flu, tossed a scoreless inning Thursday in his Grapefruit League debut.
BY THE NUMBERS: 16 -- Stolen bases allowed by the Pirates in the first 11 games of the exhibition season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "People are used to coming to the game then eating dinner. Now, they will have to eat dinner then come to the game. That's going to mess with the early-bird specials." -- Former Pirates reliever and current alumni relations director Kent Tekulve on 85-year-old McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., the club's spring home for 40 years, hosting its first night game this spring.