Getting their guy Pirates, Liriano agree to 3-year, $39-million deal
SAN DIEGO – The Pittsburgh Pirates landed their top free-agent target Monday.
The Pirates have reached agreement with left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano on a three-year deal worth $39 million. Multiple sources confirmed only the agreement.
The deal will not become official until Liriano passes his physical, and the team has not commented, though a story about the agreement was posted on the Pirates’ website.
Liriano had been Pirates general manager Neal Huntington’s primary target from the onset of the offseason, and it took the richest free-agent deal in club history to get him. The previous record was the two-year, $17 million contract that brought catcher Russell Martin to Pittsburgh two years ago.
Bringing Liriano back to the rotation could enchance the Pirates’ chances of re-signing Edinson Volquez, who also is a free agent. Liriano and Volquez combined to win 20 games for the Pirates last season.
In November, Liriano turned down a $15.3 million qualifying offer from the Pirates to pursue a multi-year contract in freeagency.
From the outset, the Pirates were intent on re-signing Liriano prior to the market becoming more expensive when top-tier free-agent pitchers such as Jon Lester, James Shields and Max Scherzer sign deals. Liriano had been considered a Plan B for teams seeking to sign Lester.
The 31-year-old Liriano had a 7-10 record last season with a 3.38 ERA. In 2013, he posted a career best in victories, finishing with a 16-8 record and a 3.02 ERA after signing a one-year contract with an option for 2014. A broken non-throwing arm delayed Liriano’s start of the2013 season.
Liriano, who was paid $6 million in 2014, has a career record of 76-72 and a 4.07 ERA in nine major-league seasons. He was Pittsburgh’s opening-day starter last season.