Coming off one of his worst seasons in his major league career, Edinson Volquez may have re-established himself as a solid starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Because of his great performance, so far, during the 2014 season, Volquez is interested in possibly re-signing with the Pirates during the offseason, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. However, Volquez still fully intends to take advantage of his great season and explore costless agency this winter.

Edinson Volquez, a 31-year-old veteran from the Dominican Republic, wants to sign a two-to-three year deal this offseason. He also told reporters the following, when he was asked about what he would do if the Pirates wanted to re-sign the right-hander:

"Why not?" Volquez said. "I think I signed in the right place with the right coaches. They made me a better pitcher this year. So, I'd like to stay here."

“You always want to sign for more than one year,” Volquez said. “Especially now that I'm 31 years old, I'd like to sign with someone for two or three years and stay a little bit longer.”

Volquez may have been one of the biggest steals of the offseason, as he was signed for next-to-nothing for a player of his value in the offseason, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year, $5 million deal. Ever since the day he signed with Pittsburgh, he has proved to everyone around the league that he was a great investment.

One thing is for sure, Volquez cares more about getting to the playoffs and moving on in the postseason, than what uniform he will be wearing come next spring.

“Sometimes, when I'm sitting around at home, it crosses my mind, ‘Where will I be next year? What will I do?' But it's not a big deal for me,” Volquez said. 

Over the 2014 campaign, spread over 185 and 2/3 innings pitched over 31 outings, Volquez pitched to a 12-7 record, as he is one of three pitchers to register over ten wins, joining young phenom, starting pitcher Gerrit Cole and All-Star relief pitcher Tony Watson, both of whom have ten wins. Volquez has also accumulated a 3.15 ERA and 113 ERA+ to go along with a 6.3 K/9 opposed to a 3.4 BB/9, 2.0 WAR and a 4.28 FIP. This is a big surprise to most people, as Volquez pitched to a disastrous 9-12 record and a 5.71 ERA. He also accumulated a 61 ERA+, 7.5 K/9 opposed to a 4.1 BB/9, career-worst -2.5 WAR and a 4.24 FIP, as he spent the 2013 campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, both having extremely pitcher-friendly ballparks.

If Volquez was to wonder what he were to make if he were to hit the open market this winter, he can look at last year's costless agent signees, who currently have similar numbers to him. Ervin Santana, who signed with the Atlanta Braves for one-year, $14.1 million after both starters Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen went down with Tommy John surgery, has gone 14-10 this season with a 3.88 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 3.42 FIP. Ubaldo Jimenez, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles for four-years, $50 million, has been somewhat treacherous this season, pitching to a 5-9 record to go along with a sub-par 4.90 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 4.75 FIP. Dan Haren, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for one-year, $10 million this winter (had vesting option of $10 million activated earlier this week), has gone 13-11 this season with a 4.14 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 4.19 FIP.

Depending on what a team expects out of Volquez in the future could determine whether he can actually receive a multi-year deal of about two or three years. A decision could come basely upon the player's injury history, durability and effectiveness.