D-backs agree to terms with Brandon McCarthy

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks (@dbacks) have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) on a two-year contract, according to D-backs Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.

McCarthy, 29, went 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA (40 ER in 111.0 IP) in 18 starts with Oakland in 2012. He did not pitch after being struck in the right side of his head on Sept. 5 vs. Angels, suffering an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion and a skull fracture.

Since 2010, McCarthy ranks among American League leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4th, 4.0), walks per 9.0 innings (5th, 1.41), home runs per 9.0 IP (7th, 0.60) and ERA (11th, 3.29). His 3.29 ERA is also seventh-best among AL right-handers during that span, trailing Justin Verlander (2.52), Jered Weaver (2.59), Jeremy Hellickson (3.02), Doug Fister (3.10), James Shields (3.15) and Felix Hernandez (3.27).

McCarthy is 37-39 with a 4.02 ERA (292 ER in 654.1 IP) and 6 complete games in 153 games (99 starts) with Chicago-AL (2005-06), Texas (2007-09) and Oakland (2011-12). He established career highs with 9 wins, 25 starts, 123 strikeouts and 170.2 IP in 2011.

The 6-foot-7, 200-pounder was originally selected by the White Sox in the 17th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. McCarthy was named the starting pitcher on Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star First Team in 2004 after leading all Minor League pitchers with 202 strikeouts.