Pirates sign free agents Edinson Volquez and Clint Barmes

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed free agent right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez and infielder Clint Barmes to one-year contracts for the 2014 season. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.

Volquez, 30, went 9-12 with a 5.71 ERA (170.1ip/108er) in 33 games (32 starts) with the Padres and Dodgers last season. He began the year with San Diego, where he made 27 starts before being released on August 27 and signing with Los Angeles on August 28.

A National League All-Star with Cincinnati in 2008, Volquez went 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 33 games (32 starts) with the Reds that season while pitching a career-high 196.0 innings and striking out a career-high 206 batters. After four seasons with Cincinnati, he was traded to San Diego along with three other players, in a deal for RHP Mat Latos, on 12/17/11.

Volquez made his Major League debut with Texas in 2005 and has gone 53-52 with a 4.75 ERA in 159 career games (154 starts) in the Major Leagues.

The 34-year-old Barmes hit .211 with five homers and 23 RBI in 108 games with the Pirates in 2013, making 106 appearances (91 starts) at shortstop.

Barmes was signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on 11/21/11 after spending the 2011 campaign with Houston. Originally selected by Colorado in the 10th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, he spent eight seasons with the Rockies before being acquired by the Astros in a trade for Felipe Paulino on 11/18/10.

To make room on the 40-man, the Pirates have designated right-handed pitcher Ryan Reid and outfielder Jerry Sands for assignment.