According to Ken Rosenthal, the Pittsburgh Pirates have finalized their two-year deal with Francisco Liriano. Rosenthal has the details below:
Sources: #Pirates, Liriano have adjusted and finalized 2-year agreement. Liriano will assume risk due to injury to right (non-throwing) arm.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 21, 2013
If Liriano misses no time due to specific right arm injury, he still gets original $12.75M. First-year salary would reduce if he misses time
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 21, 2013
I’m guessing that the first year salary would include performance bonuses for either playing time, or days on the active roster. That’s the only way I could see a team being able to work a deal like that.
With the recent addition of Jeff Karstens, the Pirates don’t have a huge need for Liriano on Opening Day. They could go with Karstens and one of Kyle McPherson or Jeff Locke to round out the rotation, then bring Liriano in when he’s healthy. Obviously you want him back as soon as possible, since he’s got the potential for more upside than any one of those pitchers.
