Pittsburgh Pirates Re-Sign Francisco Liriano To Three-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates have re-signed lefty Francisco Liriano to a three-year, $39 million deal, according to several media reports from the MLB winter meetings.

Liriano turned down a qualifying offer of one year, $15.3 million last month.

The 31-year-old southpaw had an up and down season in 2014.  In his first 15 starts, Liriano struggled mightily, going 1-7. His ERA in those starts had ballooned to an alarming 4.72. Liriano found his groove following All-Star break, going 6-3 down the stretch. By season’s end, the veteran lefty’s ERA was all the way down to 3.38.

The Pirates are banking to see more of the Liriano they saw in 2013. Liriano emerged as the ace of the staff, posting a 16-8 record and 3.02 ERA. 2013 was his best since his All-Star season with the Minnesota Twins in 2006. For his tremendous campaign, Liriano wearned his second career Comeback Player of the Year Award.  He won his first with Minnesota in 2010.

As it stands, the locks in the Pirates rotation are Liriano, Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett. The Pirates have not yet resigned Edinson Volquez, but the signing of Burnett last month might be an indicator that the veteran right-hander will not return to the team.

Charlie Morton, Vance Worley, Jeff Locke and Brandon Cumpton will be in competition for final two spots in the rotation if no other starter is signed.  Jameson Taillon and Nick Kingham also have a chance to crack the opening day rotation, but will more than likely be mid-season call-ups. Taillon is coming off Tommy John surgery.