MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have taken another step toward deepening their starting pitching.

This boost won’t take effect for a while.

Minnesota agreed Wednesday to a $10 million, two-year contract with former New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda, a move made with 2019 in mind. Pineda is recovering from Tommy John surgery on July 18, putting him on track to return to a major league mound possibly late in the 2018 season.

“We all know, when he’s healthy, what he can do,” manager Paul Molitor said during baseball’s winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

For now, the focus will be on Pineda’s rehabilitation from elbow ligament replacement.

“Obviously, it’s going to run up near the end of the year,” Molitor said. “At the very worst, we’re hoping he goes into the next offseason being able to do his regular work and not worry about rehabbing and be ready for ’19.”

Pineda will make $2 million in 2018 and $8 million in 2019. He went 8-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 17 starts with 92 strikeouts in 96 1/3 innings for the Yankees last season before being sidelined.

“Never having spoken to him until recently, just encouraged by his energy and desire to, when he gets healthy, come back and help a team,” Molitor said. “Thankfully, he chose us.”

The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Pineda began his career with the Seattle Mariners, making the American League All-Star team as a rookie in 2011. He was acquired by the Yankees the following winter in a four-player trade for catcher Jesus Montero, before a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder kept him out of action for two full seasons.