MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have added another arm to their 2013 starting rotation.
The Twins signed free-agent right-hander Kevin Correia to a two-year deal worth $10 million, the team announced Thursday. Correia is due to make $4.5 million in 2013 and $5.5 million in 2014.
Correia, 32, has spent 10 seasons in the majors, most recently with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 and 2012. He was a fourth-round pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2002. Correia made his major league debut in 2003 with the Giants and also spent 2010-11 with the San Diego Padres.
In 32 games (28 starts) with Pittsburgh last season, Correia was 12-11 with a 4.21 ERA. He struck out 89 batters and walked 46 in 171 innings. Correia was an All-Star with the Pirates in 2011 when he was 12-11 with a 4.79 ERA. At the 2011 All-Star break, Correia was 11-7 with a 4.01 ERA in 19 starts.
With the addition of Correia, the Twins now have three starters penciled into the rotation for next season, including left-hander Scott Diamond and right-hander Vance Worley who, along with prospect Trevor May, was acquired last week in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for center fielder Ben Revere.
Diamond was Minnesota's best starter last year, going 12-9 with a 3.54 ERA as a rookie. The 25-year-old Worley spent the past three seasons with the Phillies and was 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA last year. He finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2011 when he went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA.
Starting pitching has been the No. 1 emphasis for Twins general manager Terry Ryan this offseason. Minnesota's rotation boasted an American League-worst 5.40 ERA in 2011. Only Colorado's starters had a worse ERA in baseball (5.81).
"We still need pitchers, starting pitching in particular," Ryan said late last week before acquiring Correia.
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