Pirates' Hanrahan agrees to 1-year contract

PITTSBURGH – Right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan has agreed to terms on a $1.4 million, one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The sides avoided arbitration with Tuesday's deal.

Hanrahan and right-hander Evan Meek are expected to compete to be the closer.

The 29-year-old Hanrahan was 4-1 with six saves and a 3.62 ERA in a career-high 72 games last season. His 100 strikeouts in 69 2-3 innings were the most for a Pittsburgh reliever since Don Robinson had 101 in 1984.

The Pirates also agreed to terms with right-hander Jose Veras and catcher Wyatt Toregas on minor league deals and invited them to spring training.