The Pittsburgh Pirates added depth to their bullpen on Monday with the signing of reliever Daniel Hudson, per FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Source confirms: #Pirates sign free-agent RHP Daniel Hudson, two years, $11M. First reported: @jeffpassan.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 19, 2016
Pittsburgh Pirates Sign Daniel Hudson
The deal is for $11 million over two years. The 29-year-old appeared in a career-high 70 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016, amassing a 5.22 ERA and a 1.442 WHIP.
Originally a starter, Hudson was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. He made his big league debut with the club in 2009 at age 22. He started six games for the White Sox in 2009 and three in 2010 before being traded to Arizona. The trade brought starter Edwin Jackson to Chicago.
Hudson went 7-1 with the Diamondbacks in 2010 with a 1.69 ERA. His best season in the desert came in 2011 when he went 16-12 and threw 222 innings. He also hit .277 that year and brought home a Silver Slugger Award.
From Starter to Reliever
The next part of Hudson’s career was marred by injury. He went down in July 2012 with an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery. Less than a year after the initial procedure, he hit another roadblock and underwent a second TJ surgery. He returned to the Diamondbacks in 2015 as a full-time reliever, appearing in 64 games with a 3.86 ERA.
A Veteran Bullpen
For the Pirates, the move adds depth to a bullpen laced with veteran arms. With the likes of Juan Nicasio, Tony Watson, Antonio Bastardo, and Jared Hughes, experience shouldn’t be a problem for the Pirates bullpen. Those five averaged 65 appearances in 2016. What they lack, however, is a ninth-inning reliever with swing-and-miss stuff. If the Pirates plan on contending in the National League Central in 2017, they’ll have to add another piece.
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