According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Pirates have signed Kevin Correia to a two-year, $8 million contract, pending a physical.
Correia, 30, went 10-10 with a 5.40 ERA over 28 games (26 starts) with the Padres in 2010 and lost his spot in the starting rotation during the final month of the season. It was an odd year for Correia in many respects, as he struck out more batters (7.14 K/9) than he did in 2009 (6.45 K/9), but his walk rate increased from 2.91 BB/9 to 3.97 BB/9. He also gave up 20 home runs over 145 innings, despite allowing flyballs less frequently (30.1 percent) than he did in 2009 (36 percent).
In any case, hard to go too crazy about this one. Correia should actually be one of the better starters in a shaky Pittsburgh rotation that includes the likes of James McDonald, Paul Maholm and Ross Ohlendorf, but that’s not saying much, really.
Because Correia (a Type B free agent) turned down arbitration from the Padres, the club will receive a supplementary draft pick in next year’s draft.
