Continuing to revamp a bullpen that lost three contributors from the 2015 season, the Pirates signed right-handed reliever Neftali Feliz to a one-year contract Wednesday.
The contract is worth $3.9 million plus incentives, according to an industry source. To make room for Feliz, the Pirates designated catcher Tony Sanchez, their 2009 first-round draft pick, for assignment.
“Neftali Feliz is a veteran relief pitcher with a quality pitch arsenal who showed signs of returning to his pre-injury form in 2014 and again at times in 2015,” general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. “He has shown the ability to pitch in high leverage situations in the past and we believe we can help him regain that form and be an important part of our 2016 bullpen.”
The Pirates continue to search for value in pitchers coming off of poor 2015 seasons. Feliz will join a bullpen that will likely feature Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Jared Hughes, Arquimedes Caminero, Juan Nicasio and Kyle Lobstein. The Pirates signed Nicasio and traded for Lobstein after Antonio Bastardo, Joakim Soria and Joe Blanton left via free agency.
Feliz, 27, was arbitration-eligible but not tendered a contract by the Detroit Tigers after the 2015 season, when he posted a 6.38 ERA in 48 relief appearances for the Tigers and Texas Rangers. He had a 4.58 ERA in 19⅔ innings in Texas before the Rangers designated him for assignment in July. Feliz elected free agency and signed with the Tigers. Like Feliz, Nicasio also was non-tendered.
The Atlanta Braves signed Feliz out of the Dominican Republic in 2005, but sent him to the Rangers in 2007 in a trade that also involved Mark Teixeira and Elvis Andrus. Feliz won the American League rookie of the year award in 2010 when he saved 40 games, struck out 71 batters in 69⅓ innings and had a 2.73 ERA in his age-22 season.
Feliz dealt with injuries over the years, beginning with a shoulder issue in 2011. He had Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery in 2012 and pitched in only six games the following season. He missed time this past season after having an abscess on his right side removed.
The Pirates took Sanchez, 27, with the fourth overall pick in 2009. He appeared in the majors in three seasons, 2013-15, but had only 155 plate appearances in 51 games. The emergence of Elias Diaz as a viable reserve catcher made Sanchez, who was out of options, expendable.
Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.
First Published: January 6, 2016, 5:49 p.m.
Updated: January 7, 2016, 1:03 a.m.
