Vogelsong gets $2M in 1-year Bucs deal
PITTSBURGH – Ryan Vogelsong is guaranteed $2 million in his one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and can earn $3.1 million more in performance bonuses.
Vogelsong would receive $100,000 each for 10, 12 and 14 starts under Friday’s agreement and can earn $2.8 million under a points system that calls for three points for each start, two for each relief appearance of two innings or more or game finished, and one for each relief appearance less than two innings.
He would get $150,000 each for 48 and 52; $200,000 apiece for 56 and 60; $225,000 each for 64 and 68; $250,000 apiece for 72, 76, 80 and 84; and $275,000 each for 88 and 90.
The 38-year-old right-hander pitched for the Pirates from 2001-06. He helped the Giants win World Series titles in 2012 and ’14, then was 9-11 with a 4.67 ERA this year in 22 starts and 11 relief appearances, including 8-10 as a starter.
Drafted by the Giants in the fifth round in 1998, Vogelsong was traded to Pittsburgh in July 2001 and went 10-20 with a 6.06 ERA in 33 starts and 76 relief appearances. He spent three years pitching in Japan, played for Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Angels in 2010, then rejoined the Giants ahead of the 2011 season.
He is 58-68 with a 4.45 ERA in 11 big league seasons and 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA in seven postseason starts and one relief appearance.
The Pirates added Kyle Lobstein to the mix of starting pitchers looking for a rotation spot next season, acquiring the left-hander from the Detroit Tigers on Monday for cash.
Detroit designated the 26-year-old for assignment on Dec. 18. Lobstein went 3-8 with a 5.94 ERA for the Tigers in 2015, starting 11 games and relieving in two. He is 4-10 with a 5.33 ERA in 20 big league appearances, all with Detroit.
Jeff Locke and Vogelsong also among those competing for a rotation spot behind Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano and Jon Niese.