PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to terms with RHP Joel Hanrahan on a contract for the 2011 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.

The 29-year-old righthander went 4-1 with six saves and a 3.62 ERA in a career-high 72 appearances with the Pirates last season. He also struck out a career-high 100 batters while working 69.2 innings.

Hanrahan ranked fourth among all Major League relief pitchers in strikeouts in 2010. He became the first Pittsburgh reliever with at least 100 strikeouts in a season since Don Robinson whiffed 101 in 1984.

Originally a second-round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, Hanrahan signed with Washington as a free agent following the 2006 season. He made his Major League debut with the Nationals in 2007.

The Pirates acquired Hanrahan from the Nationals in a trade on June 30, 2009