One day after acquiring Jonathan Niese from New York, the Pittsburgh Pirates continued to bolster their pitching depth, signing right-hander Juan Nicasio to a one-year deal worth a reported $3 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Nicasio, who turned 29 in August, was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month after posting a 3.86 ERA (2.83 FIP) with a 1.56 WHIP over 58 1/3 innings in 2015, his first season pitching almost entirely out of the bullpen.
Signed by the Colorado Rockies as an amateur free agent in 2006, Nicasio crafted a 4.14 (110 ERA+) over 13 starts as a rookie in 2011, but struggled over the next three seasons to replicate his early success, eventually getting relegated to the bullpen during the second half of 2014.
Shortly thereafter, Nicasio was traded to Los Angeles, where he made 52 appearances and one start in 2015 while dramatically improving both his strikeout rate and home-run numbers.
Career Splits
| Split | G | ERA | WHIP | K% | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| as Starter | 70 | 5.12 | 1.48 | 17.4% | 1.17 |
| as Reliever | 71 | 3.74 | 1.43 | 24.5% | 0.58 |
Nicasio will remain under Pittsburgh's control for the 2017 campaign, as well, when he is arbitration-eligible for the final time.