Pittsburgh Pirates sign RHP Daniel Hudson to two-year, $11M deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson to a two-year, $11 million deal on Wednesday.

Hudson, who turns 30 in March, will make $5.5 million in both 2017 and 2018, according to ESPN. The contract includes $1.5 million annually in performance bonuses based on games finished starting at 30 and ending at 60.

Hudson spent the 2016 season with Arizona, where he went 3-2 with five saves, a 5.22 ERA over 60 1/3 innings and 58 strikeouts in a career-high 70 appearances in his sixth season as a member of the Diamondbacks.

Hudson did not allow a run in 52 of his 70 appearances in 2016, including 21 of his final 25 games from Aug. 5 to Oct. 2 when he posted a 1.66 ERA over 21 2/3 innings. He also stranded a team-best 77.3 percent (17 of 22) of his inherited runners during the season.

Hudson is a former starter who became a reliever after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2012 and 2013.

"I'm excited and grateful for this new opportunity with the Pirates!" Hudson wrote on Twitter. "Let's do this Pittsburgh!! Raise it!"

Hudson, originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, was traded to Arizona on July 30, 2010. Since making his major league debut in 2009, he has a career record of 35-23 with nine saves and a 3.94 ERA in 199 appearances (59 starts) between the White Sox (2009-10) and Diamondbacks (2010-16).

To make room for Hudson on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated right-handed pitcher Brady Dragmire for assignment.

Dragmire, 23, pitched in the bullpen for Double-A New Hampshire in the Toronto Blue Jays system in 2016, posting a 4.38 ERA in 72 innings. He has yet to make his debut in the majors.