PITTSBURGH — Catcher Ryan Doumit and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed today to an $11.5 million, three-year contract that includes a club option that could make the deal worth $27 million over five seasons.

Doumit reached the deal less than a year after becoming the Pirates' starting catcher. He hit .318 with 15 home runs and 69 RBIs in 431 at-bats after beating out former starter Ronny Paulino early in the season.

Doumit's 15 homers were the most by a Pirates catcher since Mark Parent hit 15 in 1995 and were two off the club record. His .323 average while catching led the National League and his .407 average with runners in scoring position was easily the best in the league by a player with more than 100 at-bats.

Earlier this month, the Pirates traded Paulino to the Philadelphia Phillies for catching prospect Jason Jaramillo. Paulino spent most of last season in the minors.

The 27-year-old Doumit made $412,000 in 2008. Before last season, he was a part-time player who averaged 211 at-bats from 2005-07.

Pittsburgh must decide after the 2011 season whether to exercise the option covering both 2012 and 2013.

The Pirates agreed to the deal despite Doumit's history of injuries. Doumit was out for three weeks last season with a thumb injury and concussion, was limited to one game during the final seven weeks of the 2007 season (wrist, ankle), sat out half the 2006 season (hamstring) and played in only 67 games for Double-A Altoona in 2004 (elbow).

Doumit, originally from Moses Lake, Wash., is the first of the Pirates' seven arbitration-eligible players to reach contract terms. Left-hander Paul Maholm may sign a multiyear deal, but center fielder Nate McLouth, first baseman Adam LaRoche, left-hander Zach Duke, left-hander John Grabow and right-hander Tyler Yates are expected to sign one-year contracts.

Doumit's agreement was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.