Kevin Gorman stories, Page 109

The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed a premium on versatility, which played a role in their signing of free agent Wilmer Difo on Friday. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder fits the bill of super utility player, having played second base, shortstop, third base and the corner outfield spots in six seasons with the...

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed the top teenage outfield prospect in the 2020-21 international free agent market Friday, giving a $2.35 million bonus to 16-year-old Shalin Polanco of the Dominican Republic. The 6-foot, 170-pound Polanco — no relation to Pirates right fielder Gregory, although both hail from Santo Domingo — is...

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded left-handed reliever Nik Turley to the Oakland A’s on Thursday for cash considerations. Turley, 31, was 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA and 1.108 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and 11 walks in 21 2/3 innings over 25 appearances last season. Turley is 0-5, with a 7.78 ERA...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are meeting with medical partners at Allegheny Health Network and Highmark to “potentially utilize” PNC Park as a covid-19 vaccination center, a team spokesman confirmed Thursday. “The ballpark can allow for mass vaccinations to be done in a safe and socially distanced manner,” team spokesman Brian Warecki...

While watching the Pittsburgh Steelers get blown out by the Cleveland Browns, I commented to my cousin that Sunday night would have been a better time for the Pirates to trade Josh Bell than Christmas Eve. His response: Wait, the Pirates traded Josh Bell? So maybe Ben Cherington’s timing worked,...

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Troy Stokes Jr. off waivers from the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, adding an outfielder to the mix. To make room for Stokes on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated lefty reliever Nik Turley for assignment. Stokes is a 5-foot-9, 200-pounder who missed the 2020 season with...

After being the lone All-Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, Josh Bell is embracing his trade to the Washington Nationals, who he called an “All-Star team” filled with World Series champions. “It’s definitely exciting times,” Bell said Saturday afternoon on a video conference call. “I think it’s everyone’s dream...

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco fractured his wrist, ending his winter ball season in his native Dominican Republic, the latest setback in his injury-riddled career. The Pirates said in a statement Polanco suffered a small nondisplaced fracture of the triquetrum bone and will have his wrist immobilized “for a...

Ben Cherington has been consistent with his message that the Pittsburgh Pirates need to “be aggressive and focused about adding talent,” which is a polite way of saying that the organization is bereft of it. The Pirates general manager also hasn’t been shy about implying that anyone and everyone is...

The Pittsburgh Pirates once coveted Josh Bell’s bat so much they took the risk of drafting the slugger in the second round and signing him to a record $5 million bonus to convince him to skip college. Bell became the face of the franchise, both for hitting majestic home runs...

When Sean Gibson got word MLB officially was recognizing the Negro Leagues, he spent Wednesday taking celebratory phone calls from the descendants of Satchel Paige and Buck Leonard. The great-grandson of Josh Gibson is the executive director of a foundation in the heralded slugger’s name and spearheading a campaign to...

With a “focus on enhancing fan and partner engagement,” the Pittsburgh Pirates announced Wednesday the hiring of David Burke as executive vice president of sales and business development. Burke will lead a handful of sales departments, ranging from tickets to partnerships, as well as business analytics. He has been executive...

Derek Shelton takes pride in laying the foundation for a culture change in his first season as Pittsburgh Pirates manager, and he’s just as enthused about creating a culture of competition in his second year. MLB is still working out whether the 2021 season will start on time or delay...

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Monday the hiring of Tony Leo as assistant athletic trainer for the major league club, completing the final piece of their sports performance staff. Leo served as infection control prevention coordinator for the Oakland A’s this past season. Prior to that, he spent 23 seasons with...

The MLB winter meetings were virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic, so baseball’s biggest week of hot stove season felt like virtually any other week to Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. The Pirates were relatively quiet until Thursday, when they were active in the Rule 5 Draft by adding a...

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday a number of changes to their baseball operations staff, including the hiring of Josh Hopper as pitching development coordinator. Hopper comes to the Pirates after three seasons as pitching coach at Dallas Baptist University, which won 43 games in 2019 as his staff ranked ninth...

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington had two spots open on the 40-man roster, the No. 1 overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft and the need to infuse young talent into the major league roster. “We wanted to be active with the first pick,” Cherington said. “We wanted to...

The Pittsburgh Pirates confirmed Wednesday that four clubs received invitations to remain affiliated with them amid MLB’s minor-league contraction to reduce the number of teams from 160 to 120. The Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A), Altoona Curve (Double-A), Greensboro Grasshoppers (High-A) and Bradenton Marauders (Low-A) were invited to continue serving as the...

The Pittsburgh Pirates waived right-handed pitcher Ashton Goudeau, clearing room on their 40-man roster before Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft. The Baltimore Orioles claimed Goudeau off waivers Monday, according to an MLB.com report. The Orioles claimed RHP Ashton Goudeau off waivers from the Pirates.— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 7, 2020 The...

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Nik Turley. Nik Turley Positions: Pitcher Throws: Left Age: 31 Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 235 pounds 2020 MLB statistics: 0-3, 4.98 ERA/1.108 WHIP in 21 2/3...

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Nik Turley. Cole Tucker Positions: Shortstop/Outfielder Bats/Throws: Both/Right Age: 24 Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 205 pounds 2020 MLB statistics: Batted .220/.252/.275 with three doubles, a home...

As MLB’s nontender deadline approached, there was speculation the Pittsburgh Pirates could cut ties with Erik Gonzalez because he plays the one position with organizational depth. Instead, the Pirates on Wednesday signed Gonzalez to a one-year contract for $1.225 million that made the veteran the frontrunner to be the starting...

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Nik Turley. Jameson Taillon Position: Pitcher Throws: Right Age: 29 Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 230 pounds 2020 MLB statistics: Did not play while recovering from Tommy...

A baseball lifer with a distinctive bushy mustache and an easygoing personality, Tommy Sandt coached for 21 years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and was the first base coach for their three consecutive NL East Division championships from 1990-92. Sandt died Tuesday. He was 69. Lost a great friend &...

Fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates no longer have to worry about scheduling conflicts bumping their favorite teams from television, like some did this past summer. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh has reached an agreement with Verizon Fios to relaunch the regional sports network, the broadcast home to the Penguins and...