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| Liriano and the Pirates have yet to finalize their contract agreement. (US Presswire) |
The Pirates agreed to sign Francisco Liriano to a two-year contract in December, but the deal was revised last month after the left-hander broke his non-pitching arm in an accident at home. The contract is not yet final, and GM Neal Huntington was non-commital when asked if it would be wrapped up before spring training, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“The process continues,” Huntington said. “We have ongoing conversations. I'm not an oddsmaker, so I don't know if it is likely or unlikely that we will add another pitcher.”
Liriano, 29, went 6-12 with a 5.34 ERA for the Twins and White Sox last season. The original two-year agreement would have paid him $12.75 million guaranteed, but the southpaw "will assume more risk" as part of the revised agreement. The contract won't be finalized until Liriano passes a physical, and he's unlikely to recover from the injury in time for opening day.
The Pirates head into the 2013 season with veterans A.J. Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez fronting a rotation that also figures to include Jeff Karstens and James McDonald. Youngsters Jeff Locke and Kyle McPherson are also in the running for starting jobs. Charlie Morton is expected to return from Tommy John surgery at midseason.
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