Pirates sign David Freese to 2-year, $11 million extension

The Pirates have signed infielder David Freese to a 2-year, $11 million contract extension, as reported by FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman. The deal includes a $6 million club option or $500K buyout for 2019.

Freese, 33, was set to become a free agent this winter after signing a 1-year, $3 million deal with the Pirates in mid-March. Freese did not have many free agent suitors after last season with the Angels, and wound up taking a below-market deal from Pittsburgh in the middle of spring training.

Freese has been solid for the Bucs, posting a .276/.355/.437 line with 12 home runs and 49 RBI in 107 games. He has appeared at third base, shortstop and second base, providing a versatile option for Pittsburgh.

The deal is the second extension for a Pirates’ veteran this season, as catcher Francisco Cervelli signed a 3-year, $31 million deal in mid-May. The club is slated to lose some other veterans to free agency this winter, with the contracts of Ivan Nova, Neftali Feliz, Sean Rodriguez, Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Joyce all set to expire.

Freese is a veteran of eight major-league seasons with the Cardinals (2009-13), Angels (2014-15) and Pirates (2016). He owns a career .276/.345/.420 line and was named World Series MVP in 2011 with St. Louis.