The Pittsburgh Pirates may have a few questions moving forward, but who will be receiving pitches for the next few seasons is not among them. The club announced on Tuesday that catcher Francisco Cervelli has agreed to a three-year contract extension that will last through the 2019 season.
BREAKING: The #Pirates & catcher Francisco Cervelli have agreed to terms on a 3-year contract extension through 2019 pic.twitter.com/lGRq71WYbv
— #VotePirates (@Pirates) May 17, 2016
“We are very pleased to be able to reach a joint commitment with a quality player and person like Francisco Cervelli,” Neal Huntington, Pirates general manager and executive vice president, said in a press release. “We look forward to Francisco’s abilities, passion and energy making us better through at least the 2019 season.”
Cervelli debuted in 2008 with the New York Yankees at age 22. He helped the Yankees win the 2009 World Series and represented team Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Primarily filling a backup role during his first several seasons with the Yankees, he won the starting job out of Spring Training in 2013. After fracturing his hand on a foul tip in April, he was placed on the 60-day Disabled List. He was named in the Biogenesis Scandal in August of the same year, earning a 50-game suspension. He was traded to the Pirates in 2014 for pitcher Justin Wilson.
After injury-riddled 2013 and 2014 seasons, along with the suspension, Cervelli didn’t have his first 500-at-bat season until 2015. He made the most of the opportunity, hitting .295 with a .370 OBP. The 30-year-old also showcased his durability, playing 128 games behind the plate. He was set to become a free agent following the 2016 season.
“Since being acquired by the Pirates prior to the 2015 season, Cervelli has recorded the best on-base percentage (.374) among all Major League catchers while posting the third-best batting average (.290) and the third-most hits (160) among all backstops behind Yadier Molina (174) and Salvador Perez (167),” the Pirates said in the release.
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