Three Pirates take new deals
percentage and .255 average in 145games last season. Mercer, who made $4,325,000 in 2017, reached his final year of arbitration eligibility. He will be a free agent after the 2018 season.
Kontos, 32, joined the Pirates on a waiver claim in August from the San Francisco Giants. In a two-month stint in Pittsburgh interrupted by a groin strain, the right-hander had a 1.84 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14⅔ innings.
Kontos could join Daniel Hudson in the setup role. He is in his third of four arbitration seasons after qualifying for Super Two status in 2015, and made $1.75 million last year.
Rivero, 26, saved 21 games after taking over the closer’s role from Tony Watson in June. Untouchable for the first half, more human in the second, he had a 1.67 ERA and struckout 88 in 75⅓innings.
This was Rivero’s first year of arbitration because he qualified for Super Two status, meaning he ranked among the top 22 percent of players with at least two years of service time but fewer than three. He made $564,500 last year.
Offering hard-throwing reliever sunder team control an extension goes against the Pirates’ general strategy, but it is possible they want cost certainty with Rivero entering the season as the closer. Saves increase arbitration salaries. Likewise, Rivero could seize a guaranteed contract to insure against injury.
The hearings will take place sometime between Jan. 29and Feb. 17 in Phoenix.