The Pittsburgh Pirates added a veteran left-handed reliever to their bullpen Thursday, signing Genesis Cabrera to a one-year major league contract.

The 28-year-old Cabrera is 17-14 with a 4.03 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and five saves while averaging 8.7 strikeouts and 4.4 walks per nine innings in seven-plus seasons, including five with the St. Louis Cardinals and two with the Toronto Blue Jays. He split this season between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, posting a 6.35 ERA with 15 strikeouts against six walks in 15 appearances.

Cabrera was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Saturday and outrighted to Triple-A Iowa but elected free agency. Cabrera will be active Friday when the Pirates open a six-game homestand with the start of a three-game series against the New York Mets at PNC Park.

The Pirates started the season with four lefty relievers but were down to Caleb Ferguson after Tim Mayza (shoulder) and Ryan Borucki (lower back) were placed on the injured list and Joey Wentz was designated for assignment. Cabrera has a five-pitch arsenal that features a sinker, curveball, four-seam fastball, cutter and splitter. He ranks in the 78th percentile in fastball velocity (96 mph), per Statcast.

To make room on the active roster for Cabrera, the Pirates optioned right-handed reliever Michael Darrell-Hicks to Triple-A Indianapolis. To clear room on the 40-man roster, righty reliever Hunter Stratton has been designated for assignment.

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