Daniel Hudson, whose six season with the Diamondbacks was interrupted by two Tommy John surgeries, has signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the deal is worth $11 million, with an additional $1.5 million available in incentives. An official announcement is pending completion of a physical.
Hudson tweeted out a magnanimous thank you to the Diamondbacks organization and its fans, saying: "I enjoyed every second of my time here! My heart will always pump Sedona Red!"
https://twitter.com/DHuddy41/status/810962432088801281
Hudson began his career in Arizona in 2010 as a starting pitcher following a midseason trade with the White Sox. He was 7-1 with a 1.69 ERA as a 23-year-old in 2010 and 16-12 with a 3.49 ERA when the D-backs won the NL West in 2011. But he required Tommy John surgery the following year, then reinjured his right elbow while recovering from his first surgery.
He returned in 2015 as a relief pitcher and was routinely throwing in the mid to upper 90s.
He finished the 2016 season with an 3-2 record, five saves and a 5.22 ERA, but his stats were sabotaged by a midseason stretch in which he gave up 26 earned runs over 9 2/3 innings.
He was the winning pitcher in the D-backs' regular-season finale and reacted emotionally afterward -- sensing that he had pitched his last game for the team.
Hudson is likely to be considered for a late-inning role with Pittsburgh. The Pirates traded their closer, Mark Melancon, to Washington late in the season, and left-hander Tony Watson took over as closer for the duration.
