PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates, who acquired some younger players before the trading deadline, today kept one of their veterans as infielder Mike Benjamin agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2002. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Benjamin, who is making $700,000 this year, is hitting .277 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 70 games. He has made 17 starts at second base, 14 at third base and 13 at shortstop. Benjamin has committed just 10 errors since joining the Pirates before the 1999 season and has gone 94 straight games at second base without a miscue.

The 34-year-old Benjamin is the oldest player on Pittsburgh's roster, although fellow utiltyman Luis Sojo and outfielder John Vander Wal are both less than a year younger.

Pittsburgh, a small market team with primarliy a young lineup, sent 28-year-old outfielder Wil Cordero to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a pair 25-year-olds: infielder Enrique Wilson and outfielder Alex Ramirez last Friday.

Benjamin began his career with the San Francisco Giants in 1989, spending seven seasons with them. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1996 season and played just one year for them before signing a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox in 1997.