By Rob Biertempfel and Karen Price

Published: Monday, December 10, 2012, 5:02 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Pirates agreed Monday on a two-year, $6.75 million deal with reliever Jason Grilli, a source said.

He went 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 28 games after the Pirates signed him as a free agent July 21, 2011, a day after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies. He became the Pirates' main setup man last season and was 1-6 with a 2.91 ERA in 64 games and 58.2 innings. He had two saves and 32 holds, fourth-most in the majors and second-most in the National League.

Grilli, 36, made $1.1 million last season.

After becoming a free agent this offseason, he received similar offers to the one the Pirates made from the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. The San Francisco Giants also expressed interest, but they didn't offer a multi-year deal.

“... He did great things with us,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said at the league's winter meetings last week in Nashville, Tenn. “He's a great guy. Our hope is he continues to mentor our young pitchers and continues to strike out hitters for us.”

Huntington declined to comment on the signing Monday. Neither Grilli nor his agent returned phone calls to the Tribune-Review.

1. Pirates outfielder Snider certainly proving to be (big) hit
2. Pirates notebook: Morton could be back in early June
3. Pirates notebook: Penguins jerseys in fashion for road trip
4. Former Pirates prospect Grossman now starting in center for Houston
5. Starter Liriano impressive again as Pirates blank Cubs
6. Improved depth could drive Pirates’ fortunes deep into season
7. Pirates get the bats going, knock off Brewers to take 4-game series
8. Pirates notebook: NL Central not so soft after all
9. Pirates notebook: Botched popup shocks Martin
10. Pirates starters Locke, Wandy enjoying good fortune
11. Pirates notebook: McCutchen scratched with soreness in right knee

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.