Twins sign Michael Pineda to 2-year deal

Michael Pineda will continue to recover from Tommy John under the Twins’ watch.

Starting pitcher Michel Pineda, still recovering from Tommy John surgery, has signed a two-year deal with the Twins, the team announced on Wednesday.

Pineda, 28, was 8-4 with a 4.39 ERA before undergoing the surgery on his right elbow back in July. Given traditional recovery times from Tommy John, Pineda will miss the majority of the 2018 season. He will make $2 million in 2018 and $8 million in 2019 with his new contract.

The Twins have been looking to improve their rotation after a surprisingly successful 2017 campaign in which they reached the AL Wild Card game, but Pineda won’t factor into their rotation plans until possibly the final month of the regular season, when the Twins hope to be pushing for a playoff spot.

Pineda spent his last four seasons with the Yankees, where he struggled to find consistency. The right-hander has been hurt by the long ball for much of his career, giving up 1.9 home runs per nine innings in 2017, and 1.4 homers per nine in 2016.

While Pineda gives the Twins potential rotation help later in the season, the team will likely continue their search for starting pitching help to build around Ervin Santana and Joe Berrios.