Pirates make $4.5 million deal with left-hander Bedard
Share with others:
DALLAS -- The Pirates and free agent left-hander Erik Bedard agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract Wednesday, according to an industry source.
Bedard, 32, finished the 2011 season with the Boston Red Sox after starting the year with the Seattle Mariners. He went 5-9 with a 3.62 ERA in 129 1/3 innings.
When healthy, Bedard has pitched effectively. He won 13 games with a 3.16 ERA in 2007 with the Baltimore Orioles and struck out 221 batters in 182 innings. But he did not pitch in the majors in 2010 because of complications from a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder, suffered in 2009.
Bedard gives the Pirates a lefty in the starting rotation, something they lacked after the departure of Paul Maholm.
The Pirates will have to remove two players from the 40-man roster to make room for Bedard and Nate McLouth, who a source confirmed agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
First Published December 7, 2011 12:00 am
