Pirates re-sign Francisco Liriano to $39 million deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates have re-signed left-handed starter Francisco Liriano, reports Robert Murray of MLB Daily Rumors. The deal is over three-years and is worth $39 million, Murray reports.

Liriano, 31, has spent the last two seasons with the Pirates, in which he has been a pretty viable starter. He was pretty good for them in the postseason two years ago, and followed that up with a pretty strong season this year. He was their top target to re-sign in free agency. The two sides have been close to a deal, per a report, but today they were able to finalize it.

It appears as if Liriano was seeking a four-year deal, Murray notes in his story, but could not get one due to his medical history. A three-year, $39 million deal isn't a terrible deal either, as a $13 million annual average value on this contract is a $9.5 million raise from his last contract ($3.5 million AAV). Liriano was able to toss over 160 innings pitched in both seasons of his deal.

The Dominican Republic native went 7-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 162.1 innings pitched this season, posting a 175 to 81 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He made 29 starts and posted a 105 ERA+. Liriano was an All-Star back in 2006 with the Minnesota Twins. 

Liriano leads a Pirates staff that includes the likes of Gerrit Cole, Vance Worley, Jeff Locke, and A.J. Burnett. Re-signingw with Pittsburgh does give them a full, five-man rotation. Burnett was re-signed this season after spending a year with Philadelphia. 

Liriano was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2000 as an amateur free agent. In nine big league seasons with the Twins, White Sox, and Pirates, Liriano has a 76-72 record with a 4.07 ERA in 1163.1 innings pitched. He has averaged 2.37 strikeouts per walk.

--Devan Fink

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