PITTSBURGH — The Pirates avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove and eight others on Friday as the club tries to bounce back after finishing with the worst record in the majors in 2020.

Musgrove, the team’s opening day starter in 2020, will make $4.45 million after going 1-5 with a 3.86 ERA last season while making a pro-rated $1,037,037 of a $2.8 million salary. The 28-year-old could help anchor the top of the rotation along with Jameson Taillon, the emphasis on “could.” With the Pirates in full rebuild mode, Musgrove is one of their few major-league ready trade chips as they look to restock their prospect pool.

Catcher Jacob Stallings, a Gold Glove finalist while dealing with a pitching staff ravaged by injuries, earned a significant raise. The 31-year-old’s pay jumped from $586,500 ($217,222 pro-rated) to $1.3 million. Stallings hit .248 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in his first full season as a starter.

Infielder Colin Moran, now the de facto starting first baseman after the Pirates traded Josh Bell to Washington on Christmas Eve, earned a bump from $593,500 ($219,815 pro-rated) to $2.8 million.

Second baseman Adam Frazier, like Stallings a Gold Glove finalist last season, will make $4.3 million. Left-handed pitcher Steven Brault, who carved out a spot at the back of the rotation, earned a raise to $2.05 million. Chad Kuhl, who returned in 2020 after missing most of two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, will earn $2.13 million.

Reliever Kyle Crick, limited to seven appearances due to injury, will make $800,000. Richard Rodriguez, who figures to enter spring training as the closer after racking up four saves last season, jumped to $1.7 million. Reliever Chris Stratton will earn $1.1 million in 2021.

The Pirates also signed infielder Wilmer Difo to a minor-league contract. Difo, who spent the first six years of his career with the Washington Nationals, is a career .247 hitter with 15 home runs and 79 RBIs in 373 games.

INDIANS: CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians avoided salary arbitration with catcher Austin Hedges, right-hander Phil Maton and infielder Amed Rosario, agreeing Friday to one-year deals with three players who joined them via trade in the past six months. Hedges will make $3.28 million in 2021, Rosario $2.4 million and Maton $975,000.

The team began the offseason with seven arbitration eligible players, including All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor. But the Indians traded Lindor along with starter Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets for Rosario, infielder Andres Gimenez and two propsects.

The 25-year-old Rosario batted .252 in 46 games last season. It’s not clear what the Indians plans are for Rosario, who could be in the mix to replace Lindor. Considered an excellent defensive catcher, the 28-year-old Hedges came to the Indians in July from San Diego as part of the Mike Clevinger deal. Hedges got one hit in 12 at-bats with the Indians in 2020. Also part of the Clevinger deal, Maton will likely have a spot in Cleveland’s bullpen in 2021. The right-hander started well after joining the Indians, but struggled over his last 11 appearances and finished 3-3 with a 4.57 ERA.