Pirates, David Freese agree to two-year, $11 million contract extension

The Pirates have signed infielder David Freese to a two-year, $11 million extension with a club option for 2019.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed veteran infielder David Freese to a two-year, $11 million contract extension, the team announced.

The deal comes with a club option for 2019 and will pay Freese $6.25 million in 2017 and $4.25 million in 2018. Pittsburgh has the option of picking up Freese's $6 million option for 2019 or exercise a $500,000 buyout.

"It's the Pirates. It's a team that can compete to win. I think that's the first thing I thought about when I signed here," Freese said. "I was so ecstatic that I was with a team, considering the situation I was in, that had a realistic shot to win this year and compete in years to come. Then you look around at the guys, from top to bottom, I love every one of them. It's just a good fit."

Freese, 33, signed a one-year deal with the Pirates last off-season after spending the previous two season with the Los Angeles Angels. 

Freese, a former World Series MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals, is hitting .276 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 107 games this season for the Pirates, who are 3.5 games back of the second wild-card spot in the National League.

- Scooby Axson