Pirates: Cervelli Extension Smart Move
By Rich Donahue
The Pittsburgh Pirates face the Atlanta Braves Tuesday at PNC Park.
That’s amore. The Pirates announced Tuesday they have signed catcher Francisco Cervelli to a three-year extension worth $31 million. The extension will keep the 30 year old catcher in a Pirates uniform through the 2019. In the deal, he will make $9 million in 2017, $10.5 million in 2018 and $11.5 million in 2019.
The extension is a smart move for the Pirates. Cervelli was going to be a free agent after this season after he signed $3.5 million arbitration deal for 2016. He came to the team in a trade prior to the 2015 season with the New York Yankees, which sent reliever Justin Wilson to the Big Apple.
Cervelli could never break through with the Yankees with injuries and veterans like Jorge Posada and Brian McCann keeping him in the minors or on the bench. The trade was made after Russell Martin signed an $82 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Since becoming the starting for the club, Cervelli has been a smashing success with the Pirates. Last season he hit .295 with 7 home runs, 43 RBIs and a WAR of 3.2. His war over the past two season is second in the majors for catchers only trailing Buster Posey. So far in 2016, Cervelli has yet to break out with the bat, though is on-base percentage has increased. His OBP this season so far is .386; last year it was .370. The rise is mainly due to the Pirates new offensive approach.
Keeping Cervelli under contract through 2019 will lock down the catcher’s position for the Pirates. The club does have Elias Diaz and Reese McGuire in their system, two catchers the organization is very high on. Diaz spent most of season in AAA Indianapolis and was called up last September when the rosters expanded to 40, going 0-2 in his two lone appearances at the plate.
McGuire was one of the Pirates’ first round picks in 2013 and is only 21. He currently at AA Altoona; he’s hitting .244 in 25 games.
While these two prospects gain more experience in the minors, Cervelli will continue to excel for the Pirates in the majors.