Pirates sign Felipe Rivero to a new contract extension

On Monday evening, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed their best relief pitcher to a contract extension

Monday was a wild day for the Pittsburgh Pirates. To start the day they traded superstar center fielder Andrew McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants. You can read more about that atrocity of a trade here.

Rightfully so due to the horrendous return for McCutchen, many Pirate fans were outraged over the McCutchen trade. Monday night the Pirates did make a good move, though, as the team signed left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero to a contract extension.

According to report, the Pirates and Rivero reached a four-year contract extension that will buy out the remainder of his arbitration years. Additionally, his contract also includes a pair of option years that buy out his first two years of free agency.

On the surface, this looks like a bargain of a deal for the Pirates. Since coming to Pittsburgh in July of 2016, Felipe Rivero has started to evolve into arguably the best left-handed relief pitcher in the National League.

Since joining the Pirates Rivero has logged 102 2/23 innings in 101 games. He has allowed just 70 hits and seven home runs while averaging 3.33 BB/9 and 11.13 K/9. Combine all of this with a 51.6 percent groundball rate, and Rivero owns a 2.10 ERA and a 2.82 FIP as a Pirate.

As Dave breaks down on Twitter, this deal should be an absolute bargain for the Pirates.

Next: Pirates trade Cutch to Giants

Felipe Rivero is now under team control for the Pittsburgh Pirates through 2023. This means he will continue to anchor the Pirate bullpen for at least six more seasons.