Francisco Cervelli has developed into a key part of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now, he will be around for the next three years after his new contract extension.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Tuesday that they have extended catcher Francisco Cervelli through the 2019 season. The extension is said to be worth $31 million and it does not include incentives. According to Steven Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cervelli will make $9MM in 2017, $10.5MM in 2018, and $11.5MM in the final year. He was due to enter free agency after the 2016 season, but the Pirates decided to ink Cervelli to this extension now rather than waiting.
Pirates’ General Manager Neal Huntington said in his statement announcing the deal, “We are very pleased to be able to reach a joint commitment with a quality player and person like Francisco Cervelli. We look forward to Francisco’s abilities, passion and energy making us better.”
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Now 30 years old, Cervelli made his Major League debut in 2008 with the New York Yankees and played in New York for seven seasons. He was traded to the Pirates before the 2015 season for reliever Justin Wilson and has come into his own with Pittsburgh.
Cervelli finished the 2015 campaign with career highs in home runs (7), RBI (43) and most important, games started (130). He has flourished as Pittsburgh’s starting catcher and the team rewarded him with this extension.
When the deal was announced, Cervelli tweeted:
Here's where I want to be so i decided stay here........ #IAmAPirate @PlRATES
— Francisco Cervelli (@fran_cervelli) May 17, 2016
He also penned a piece for the Players’ Tribune in which is discusses his decision to re-sign with the Pirates and he touches upon his career and how he got to this momentous point. Cervelli has dealt with a variety of injuries, a steroids suspension, and limited playing time because of his maladies, but he has come out of it all with a new contract extension.
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Francisco Cervelli has become a key part of the Pittsburgh Pirates success over the past few years, and now, he will be a part of their future as well.