Francisco Liriano

The Twins and LHP Francisco Liriano avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

Liriano posted an ugly 5.09 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 134 1/3 innings last season while making a $4.3 million salary. He’s set to become a free agent next winter.

Francisco Liriano allowed one earned run in 1 2/3 innings Wednesday in his Dominican Winter League debut.

Liriano was scheduled to pitch two innings but fell just short of that goal. The 28-year-old left-hander yielded two hits and issued one walk while tallying a pair of strikeouts. He’ll make his second winter league appearance early next week and is likely to shoot for a three-inning effort.

Francisco Liriano will pitch two innings Wednesday night with Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said last month that Liriano wasn’t going to pitch in the Winter League, but they have agreed to let him pitch as long as he doesn’t throw more than 20 innings. “He?ll probably go three [innings] the next outing,” said Ryan. “He knows that we don?t want him to go more than 20, and their season’s coming to an end here. We’re trying to get him ready for spring training.” Liriano regretted not being able to pitch in winter ball last year, saying that it was the best way to get him ready for the season, so hopefully this will get him going in the right direction. The 28-year-old left-hander posted a disappointing 5.09 ERA and 112/75 K/BB ratio over 134 1/3 innings in 2011.