The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher Robbie Erlin to a minor league deal according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
The #Pirates sign veteran reliever Robbie Erlin to minor-league contract that will pay him $1.5 million on the big-league roster with $100,000 in incentives. He'll be in their spring training camp and can opt out if not on the opening-day #MLB roster.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 30, 2020
Erlin has pitched six seasons in the majors for the San Diego Padres, beginning back in 2013. He missed the second half of 2016 and all of 2017 with Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old was a third round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2009. He had a 5.37 ERA and a 3.61 FIP in 55.1 innings in 2019, spread out over one start and 36 relief appearances. His 1.57 WHIP was a career worst, as was his ERA. In his career, he has a 4.57 ERA/ 3.59 FIP over 313 innings, with 249 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP. He has 38 big league starts and 68 relief appearances.
Erlin can make up to $1.6 M in 2020 if he’s on the big league roster all season. According to Nightengale, he has the option to opt out of his contract if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster.
