Pirates reach agreement with LHP Erik Bedard

The Pittsburgh Pirates will leave the Winter Meetings with several of their priorities marked off their wishlist.

The team went into the meetings coveting a left handed starter and have landed one.

The Pirates have reached an agreement with lefty Erik Bedard this afternoon. The deal is a one year deal reportedly worth $4.5 million with incentives (? Not confirmed). Last year Bedard signed a one year contract worth $1 million with the Mariners that included $6.35 million in incentives.

Bedard, 32, was a former ace of the Baltimore Orioles but injures have plagued him for the past couple seasons.

Bedard though had a solid season last season and stayed mostly healthy, starting 24 games combined for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, going 5-9 with a 3.62 ERA.

Bedard did not play in 2010 but has posted an era under 4.00 since the 2005 season.

Bedard in 2006 won 15 games, followed by 13 in 2007 and was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2008.

In 2009, Bedard had a career best 2.82 ERA, going 5-3 in 15 starts for the Mariners.

In his career, Bedard is 56-50 with a 3.70 ERA.

The Pirates top five pitchers at this point (including Brad Lincoln)  in their rotation are all right handers and the team doesn’t expect Charlie Morton to be ready for the start of the season due to hip surgery.

Bedard has never played for a National League team.

The Pirates met with Jim Lindell, the agent for Jeff Francis on Tuesday but the Pirates deemed that Francis is out of their price range. Francis is seeking $4 million per season.