Kevin Gorman stories, Page 41
Mariners claim former Pirates OF Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers
The Seattle Mariners claimed former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers Wednesday, reuniting him in the same city with his brother. Smith-Njigba, 24, started in right field for the Pirates on Opening Day in Cincinnati last season. The Pirates designated him for assignment Jan. 31 to make room on...
Pirates by Position: Starting job at second base could be biggest battle of spring training
Since Adam Frazier was traded amid an All-Star season in 2021, second base has been something of a misnomer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s more like a short stop. The Pirates have tried 24 players at the position over the past two-plus years, and not one has started even half...
Pirates by Position: Can Oneil Cruz’s return spell the end of revolving door at shortstop?
When Derek Shelton was asked at PiratesFest whether Oneil Cruz would be eased back into the starting lineup or serve as the everyday shortstop, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager gave a roundabout response. Shelton shared that the daily highlight of his offseason came around 1 p.m., when he received an email...
Pirates by Position: Third base in good hands with Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes
For as much as Derek Shelton values versatility, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager has made one thing abundantly clear: As long as Ke’Bryan Hayes is healthy, he will be starting at third base. It’s the one position on the field where the Pirates have few question marks. According to the analytics,...
‘We actually have a pretty good team’: Rowdy Tellez touts Pirates, new teammates
Rowdy Tellez already was familiar with most of the Pittsburgh Pirates roster, but the burly slugger is looking forward to meeting several of his new teammates, especially those who stand his size or taller. A 6-foot-4, 270-pound first baseman who signed a one-year contract with the Pirates last month, Tellez...
Pirates sign 7-time All-Star reliever Aroldis Chapman, DFA OF Canaan Smith-Njigba
Aroldis Chapman was willing to put the past behind him to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, even if it means that the seven-time All-Star reliever won’t be serving as their closer. Chapman signed a one-year contract worth $10.5 million with the Pirates on Wednesday that made the free agent their...
No. 1 pick Paul Skenes leads list of 13 prospects invited to Pirates big league camp
One of the biggest questions for the Pittsburgh Pirates is whether 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes will pitch in the major leagues this season The Pirates won’t have to wait until the summer to see him in black and gold. Skenes is one of five top-100 prospects among...
Lefty Anthony Solometo makes Top 100 debut as MLB Pipeline ranks 5 Pirates prospects
Left-handed pitcher Anthony Solometo made his Top 100 debut, as MLB Pipeline released its new Top 100 list Friday night that features five Pittsburgh Pirates prospects. Right-hander Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, is ranked No. 3 overall. Second baseman Termarr Johnson (No. 44), right-handed...
Analysis: Is Pirates’ signing of Aroldis Chapman a precursor to a trade?
The Pittsburgh Pirates stunned the baseball world, including their own fan base, by agreeing to a one-year, $10.5 million contract with left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman on Monday. The move can be viewed in multiple ways, the most optimistic being that the Pirates bolstered a bullpen that features two-time All-Star closer...
Pirates add 21 prospects from 7 countries in international signing period
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Friday they have signed 21 prospects from seven countries in the international signing period, including a pair of players ranked in the top 50. The list features nine players from Dominican Republic, five from Venezuela, three from Panama and one each from Australia, the Bahamas, Curacao...
Paul Skenes highest ranked of 4 Pirates in Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list
Baseball America rated right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes its No. 9 prospect, and the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick is one of four Pittsburgh Pirates in its updated top 100 prospect rankings. Right-handed pitchers Bubba Chandler (59) and Jared Jones (74) and second baseman Termarr Johnson (77) also are ranked...
Pirates sign a pair of top-32 prospects as international signing period opens
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed a pair of Dominican teenagers who are ranked in the top 32 international prospects by Baseball America and top 50 by MLB Pipeline when the MLB’s international signing period opened Monday. Brailyn Brazodan, an outfielder who turned 18 on Jan. 9, is the highest regarded prospect...
Paul Spadafora’s rise to world champion, fall from grace chronicled in ‘Fighting Till The End’
Paul Spadafora was back where he believes he belongs, wearing gloves and working in and around the ring with aspiring fighters last month at Tom Yankello’s World Class Boxing Gym in Ambridge. The former IBF lightweight champion from McKees Rocks, who now resides in Las Vegas, returned to his hometown...
Pirates have 4 candidates preparing for position battle to earn starting job at second base
As the Pittsburgh Pirates approach spring training, one of the most interesting battles for a starting job could involve a major international signing, a former first-round pick, the centerpiece of a trade for an All-Star and their top hitter among rookies last season. Ji Hwan Bae, Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero...
Pirates avoid arbitration with 4 more players, including All-Stars David Bednar, Mitch Keller
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration by agreeing Thursday to one-year contracts with four players, including a pair of All-Star pitchers, a source confirmed to TribLive. Two-time All-Star closer David Bednar earned the biggest raise, going from a $745,000 salary last year to $4.51 million to this season. The Mars alum...
Pirates extend non-roster invitations to 8 players for major league spring training camp
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday that they have extended non-roster invitations to the following eight players for major league spring training camp: • Sergio Alcantara: An infielder who made his MLB debut with Detroit in 2020 — homering off Minnesota Twins left-hander Rich Hill in his first at-bat — the...
JT Brubaker readies for return to Pirates, with Chad Kuhl’s words of advice on his mind
After nine months of recovery and rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery, JT Brubaker is finally getting the mobility to work on rediscovering his pitching motion. At this point in the offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander says he would typically be spinning the ball on flat ground and preparing to throw...
Pirates avoid arbitration with RHP JT Brubaker, who signs 1-year deal for $2.725 million
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher JT Brubaker on Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year contract for $2.725 million, a source confirmed to TribLive. Brubaker will make the same salary as he did last year, which he missed after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was projected to make...
After sudden position switch, Pirates CF Jack Suwinski spending offseason in preparation
When the Pittsburgh Pirates made major position changes to the outfield last spring, it was with the intention to accommodate two of the most important players on the team. With Andrew McCutchen expected to start in right field and Bryan Reynolds expressing a desire to return to left, Jack Suwinski...
After anchoring Pirates’ starting rotation, Mitch Keller concentrates on contract, workload
Mitch Keller spent his first five seasons in the major leagues working to fulfill his potential as a staff ace for the Pittsburgh Pirates, only to realize that he was the last man standing among their starting pitchers. After posting career highs with 13 wins in 194 1/3 innings over...
Gold Glove in hand, Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes wants to show same consistency at plate
Now that Ke’Bryan Hayes finally has a Gold Glove, the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman can turn his attention to other hardware. With the way Hayes finished last season, a Platinum Glove is a strong possibility and perhaps even a Silver Slugger is in his future. Hayes, however, would prefer jewelry....
With a chance to catch for Pirates, Henry Davis seeks to be Swiss Army knife with a sharp edge
Henry Davis is a man of few words, except when it comes to catching. Ask about his natural position, and the 2021 No. 1 overall pick is willing to go deep into detail. After spending only two innings behind the plate for the Pittsburgh Pirates this past summer, Davis has...
Fans fire away at management about payroll, playoff hopes in Q&A session at PiratesFest
With Pittsburgh Pirates fans packing the third-floor ballroom of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the “Ask Pirates Management” Q&A session addressed the most repeated submitted question first. No surprise, it was pointed at payroll: What will it take, in terms of a financial commitment, to make the Pirates a...
‘That should be the goal’: Bryan Reynolds, Pirates believe they have playoff potential
After requesting a trade before signing a franchise-record contract last April, Bryan Reynolds was relieved to have a drama-free offseason. That didn’t stop the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder from making a prediction that should draw headlines for being so bold. Reynolds believes the Pirates (76-86), who followed back-to-back 100-loss seasons by...
Return of PiratesFest to feature All-Star players, alums
The return of PiratesFest will feature All-Star players Andrew McCutchen, David Bednar, Mitch Keller and Bryan Reynolds and Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes, as well as Pirates alums Andy Van Slyke, Jason Grilli, Neil Walker and Bob Walk. The event, which will be held Saturday at the David L. Lawrence...
