Free agent starting pitcher Erik Bedard will reportedly sign with the Pirates. It’s a one-year deal worth $4.5 million plus incentives, which sounds like a bargain. Bedard has had lots of problems with injuries in the last several years, but he still strikes out a batter an inning when healthy, and there’s really nothing to dislike about a lefty who can rack up strikeouts pitching in the National League, with half his games at PNC Park.

There is, of course, a good chance that the Pirates will get nothing from this deal – Bedard missed a big chunk of time with a torn labrum, and even in the relatively healthy year of 2011, he only pitched 129.1 innings. But he’s worth the risk, because he can be a top-of-the-rotation starter if he’s healthy. His signing fills a huge hole for the Pirates, and fills it very well.

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