Rodriguez Agrees to Minor League Deal with the Atlanta Braves

Wandy Rodriguez is making a minor career change…

The 35-year-old Dominican professional baseball pitcher has agreed to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Wandy Rodriguez

The left-hander, who turns 36 on Sunday, will attend big league spring training and compete for the fifth spot in the rotation.

If he is added to the 40-man roster, he would get a one-year contract for $2 million.

Rodriguez was 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA last year in six starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which released him on May 30.

Rodriquez appeared in only 12 games in 2013 due to a left forearm injury.

Beginning in 2008, Rodriguez posted six straight seasons with an ERA under 4.00 with the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh. His has a 91-94 record with a 4.06 ERA in 248 starts and 10 relief appearances.

Liriano Agrees to Two-Year, $14 Million Deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Francisco Liriano will be living the life of a pirate next season…

The 29-year-old Dominican-born professional baseball player has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Minneapolis’ The Star Tribune.

Francisco Liriano

Following 5½ seasons with the Minnesota Twins, this will be Liriano’s third team in five months after being traded from the Twins to the Chicago White Sox in late July.

The left-handed starting pitcher was 6-12 with a 5.34 ERA in 2012.

He’s 53-54 with a 4.40 ERA in six full seasons.

Liriano pitched a no-hitter in May 2011 but failed to muster much success the rest of the season, finishing 9-10 with a 5.09 ERA.

He’ll join a Pirates rotation that includes A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez and James McDonald, who went a combined 33-22 for Pittsburgh in 2012.

Liriano is the Pirates’ second big free-agent acquisition of the past month; catcher Russell Martin signed a two-year, $17 million deal.

The Pirates hope Liriano and Martin can help get the team at least over .500. Their record string of losing seasons was extended to 20 this past season when they went from 16 games over .500 on Aug. 8 to a 79-83 finish, losing 35 of their last 50 games.