Reliever Daniel Hudson signs with Pirates, thanks D-backs
Dec 19, 2016, 3:29 PM | Updated: Dec 20, 2016, 11:36 am
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson (41) smiles as he gets a hug from catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, left, after the final out of the team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Rockies 11-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Free agent reliever Daniel Hudson on Monday agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to sources of Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan.
The 29-year-old pitcher confirmed the news by tweeting out a thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the training staff and D-backs fans.
“These six years didn’t end the way (they) started, but I enjoyed every second of my time here! My heart will always pump Sedona red!” he wrote.
. @Dbacks thank you, for everything! pic.twitter.com/Nx05q4vRGk
— Daniel Hudson (@DHuddy41) December 19, 2016
Hudson joined the Diamondbacks in a midseason trade in 2010 from the Chicago White Sox and had transitioned from a starting pitcher to a bullpen arm following two Tommy John surgeries nine games into his 2012 season. The right-hander missed the entirety of 2013 and all but three games in 2014 before he appeared in 64 games as a full-time reliever in 2015.
He recorded a 3.56 ERA in his inaugural year out of the bullpen but struggled last year in 70 appearances of 5.22 ERA pitching. Hudson hit a bump in the road in the middle of 2016, putting together a 9.00 ERA in June and 19.29 ERA in July.
In September, Hudson finished off his year with a 1.86 ERA more in line with his 0.77 ERA he posted to begin the season in April and 2.00 mark in May.
He finished off the D-backs’ disappointing season with an emotional press conference following the 2016 finale.
Passan reports that the Dodgers, Yankees and Rays all expressed interest in Hudson, who with Pittsburgh earned a hefty payday with $1.5 million incentives for games played per season.
Hudson began his career with much success as a starter. He went 7-1 with a 1.69 ERA to close 2010 after being traded to Arizona and went 16-12 the next season with a 3.49 ERA.
