ESPN MLB

DALLAS -- Reliever Jose Mesa agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies that guarantees him $2.5 million.

Jose Mesa

Relief Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L BB K ERA 55 2 8 26 37 4.76

The 39-year-old right-hander was 2-8 with a 4.76 ERA and 27 saves in 55 relief appearances last season, his second with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mesa tied a Pirates' record by converting 23 consecutive save chances from Aug. 24, 2004, until last May 15.

"We feel that Mesa brings a tremendous amount of talented experience to our bullpen," Rockies General Manager Dan O'Dowd said. "He's pitched in big games and has proven that he is still very effective."

Mesa is 12th on the career list with 319 saves. He was an All-Star in 1995 and 1996 with Cleveland, when O'Dowd worked for the Indians.

Because Mesa wasn't offered salary arbitration by Pittsburgh, Colorado won't lose any draft picks to the Pirates as compensation.

He gets $2 million next season, and Colorado has a $3 million option for 2007 with a $500,000 buyout.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press