Pirates sign Freese to affordable 1-year deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed third baseman David Freese to a one-year deal, the team announced Friday.

Freese, who fractured his right hand last July, hit .257/.323/.420 with 14 homers and 56 RBIs in 121 games for the Los Angeles Angels last season. He'll reportedly earn $3 million for his services in 2016 after cashing in over $6 million last year.

The 32-year-old put himself on the map with a Herculean effort while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 postseason. Freese slashed an incredible .397/.465/.794 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 18 postseason games to claim World Series and National League Championship Series MVP honors.

Freese will man third base until Jung Ho Kang returns from a knee injury in late April, and then he'll be part of a first-base platoon alongside John Jaso, according to general manager Neal Huntington.

Left-hander Jesse Biddle was designated for assignment in a corresponding roster move.