Francisco Liriano lands with Pirates

Free agent starting pitcher Francisco Liriano has finally signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, for a two-year deal, worth $12.75 million. Liriano has first signed with the Pirates on December 21, 2012. The Pirates later found out that Liriano had hurt his right arm (his non-throwing arm). The Pirates and Liriano agreed to a reduced salary in the first year of his contract, because of the injury and the Pirates being concerned about his injury. Liriano comes to the Pirates after finishing half of the 2012 season with the Chicago White Sox.

He was signed as an international free agent back in 2000 by the San Francisco Giants. Liriano was later traded to the Minnesota Twins, that deal included catcher A. J. Pierzynski going to the Giants for Liriano, closer Joe Nathan, and relief pitcher Boof Bonser. Liriano reached the majors in 2005, his first career start was on September 30, 2005 against the Detroit Tigers. His MLB debut came as a relief pitcher on September 5, 2005 against the Texas Rangers. Liriano ended up missing all of the 2007 season, due to having Tommy John surgery, after having pain in his left elbow during the 2006 season. During the 2006 season, Liriano made the American League All-Star team for the first time in his career, he would finish the season 12-3 with an era of 2.16, pitching in 28 games, while starting 16 games. After having bad season in 2008 and 2009, he came back strong in 2010. And ended up winning AL Comeback Player of the Year for 2010, that award is given to any player for both leagues. It goes to a player who re-emerges himself during the season, only one player for both the AL and NL can win it though.

In 2011, Liriano would throw his first ever complete game, that ended up also being a no-hitter. It came against the Chicago White Sox in U.S. Cellular Field on May 3, 2011. He threw 123 pitches, while facing a total of 30 batters and striking out two batters, and walking 6. Only 66 pitchers during the game were strikes. On July 13, 2012 the Oakland Athletics faced Liriano and the Twins, he would lose the game, but struck out a career high fifteen batters. Before striking out fifteen batters in the game, his career high for strikeouts had been twelve.

The Chicago White Sox traded for Francisco Liriano on July 28, 2012. The deal sent shortstop/third baseman Eduardo Escobar and pitcher Pedro Hernández  to the Minnesota Twins. Liriano would finish the 2012 season with a record of 6-12 with an era of 5.34, while pitching 156.2 innings, with 167 strikeouts and 87 walks. So far Liriano's career record is: 53 wins - 54 losses, era 4.40, and 840 strikeouts, with a WHIP (a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base) is 1.35,

The question is which Liriano will the Pirates get during the two seasons. Will they get a healthy one, who has shown flashes that he can be a good starting pitcher or an injured one, and the one that doesn't show flashes? I guess soon, everyone will find out which Liriano the Pirates end up getting for their two years of him on their team. It would be nice to see Liriano finally figure out that he can pitch well, and do it for the Pirates. After all the Pirates are a young team, and have talent, even though they haven't made the playoffs since the 1992 season and have been losing ever since their playoff exit. The Pirates have shown flashes of having their first winning season since 1992, but then find ways to turn it into another losing season.