Pittsburgh Pirates: Why Signing Erik Bedard Was the Right Move

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Erik Bedard to a one year, $4.5 million contract on Wednesday. Bedard split time between Seattle and Boston last season.

Signing Bedard immediately fills Paul Maholm's vacant starting rotation spot. In fact, it could wind up being an upgrade.

Bedard went 5-9 with a 3.62 ERA over 24 starts last season. He has above-average stuff, and used it to strike out over a batter an inning.

He is a veteran, and moving to the National League should give his production a slight boost.

The biggest issue with Bedard is his health. He has pitched over 100 innings once since 2008. A torn labrum forced him to miss the entire 2010 season.

However, he is 56-50 over his eight-year career with a 3.70 ERA. In other words, when Bedard is healthy he is a welcome addition to any rotation. Especially the shaky rotation of the Pirates.

The Bedard signing should encourage Pirate fans. Not because it will make the Pirates contenders, or anything of the sort, but because the Pirates showed initiative to grab a player with potential upside.

The Pirates have made a habit, albeit a bad one, of signing past-their-prime players with little upside. Bedard is not a sure thing, but if he can maintain his health he is arguably the best pitcher on the current Pirate pitching staff.

Maholm is gone after the Pirates declined the 2012 option on his contract. Charlie Morton recently had hip surgery, and his recovery is unknown at this point.

Last season's free-agent darling, Kevin Correia, started his Pirate career off on the right foot, but digressed as the season rolled along.

The Pirates starting rotation is far from a sure thing, but this is a step in the right direction.

If Bedard can stay motivated he will be a welcome addition to a team yearning for excitement. The ability to strike batters out is a rare commodity in recent Pirate rotations, and is sorely needed.

Don't get too excited yet Pirate fans, but for now go ahead and give Neil Huntingdon a pat on the back.

Quickly, before he makes you regret it.