SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Pirates are close to bringing back starter Francisco Liriano, according to two people familiar with the situation.

MLB Daily Rumors and CBS Sports reported that the sides had agreed on a three-year deal worth $39 million, which would be the largest free-agent contract in Pirates history.

One source said the sides have been close for about a week.

A source told the Post-Gazette in November that Liriano, the 31-year-old lefty who pitched for the Pirates in each of the past two seasons, was seeking a three- or four-year contract worth $13 million or more in average annual value. With this deal, Liriano got it. The Pirates also took him off the board before Jon Lester, Max Scherzer or James Shields signed.

The Pirates had given Liriano a $15.3 million qualifying offer. Liriano declined, meaning the Pirates were the only team that could re-sign him without surrendering a first-round draft pick (unless the signing team had a top 10 pick, which was protected). Other teams might have reduced their offers, taking in the loss of a draft pick, and the Pirates’ offer might have been the best one he received.

Liriano went 23-18 with a 3.20 ERA in 2013-14 for the Pirates. A broken non-throwing arm delayed his start of the season in 2013 and caused him to renegotiate his contract. Pitching on a new, heavily incentive-laden deal, Liriano went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 161 innings.

In 2014, Liriano struggled with injuries, including a groin strain near the end of spring training.