Pirates/MLB category, Page 3
Baseball won’t sleep on Paul Skenes, even if Pirates ace has ‘no more made-up pitches’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Whether Paul Skenes was straight-faced serious or acting intentionally ignorant to protect a new pitch before its unveiling in a game, only the Pittsburgh Pirates ace knows. But Skenes swore that he’s never heard of the “sleeper” despite a revelation late last month on MLB Network that...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ offseason spending should be embraced, even if cynical explanations are accurate
With spring training getting underway, a lot of Pittsburgh Pirates fans are eagerly debating how much the club’s offseason moves will improve 2026 results from a year ago. Did you catch those words I just tied together in that sentence? “Fans.” “Eagerly.” “Improve.” “Pirates.” Yeah. Uncharted waters around these parts...
‘Andrew will always be a Pirate’: Marcell Ozuna signing could spell end of McCutchen era
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ben Cherington is aware one of his most celebrated moves this offseason could be his most controversial for the Pittsburgh Pirates, considering what the writing on the wall means for a franchise great. By agreeing to a one-year contract worth $12 million with free-agent slugger Marcell Ozuna,...
First Call: Calvin Austin on his uncertain future with Steelers; Marcell Ozuna’s PNC Park struggles
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some revealing quotes from one of Pittsburgh’s top wide receivers. We look at a challenge facing Marcell Ozuna now that he is a Pittsburgh Pirate. Pitt gets good news about a Panthers basketball alum in advance of the club’s big game against Duke on Tuesday night....
Adding Marcell Ozuna solves DH dilemma but creates confusion in projecting Pirates roster
A team once infamously dubbed a “hodgepodge of nothingness” by Dennis Eckersley now has a lineup littered with All-Stars after the Pittsburgh Pirates added another in Marcell Ozuna. By agreeing with Ozuna to a one-year contract worth $12 million Monday, the Pirates not only pushed their payroll above $100 million...
Even with Marcell Ozuna, Pirates’ offseason moves are tough to evaluateVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates made some national headlines Monday by signing former Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract. Even before that acquisition, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently released his grades for how Major League Baseball organizations performed this offseason. The former Cincinnati Reds general manager...
‘Be yourself’: In 1st spring as Pirates manager, Don Kelly accepts advice from Hall of Famer
Don Kelly is past the pinch-me phase of being manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, yet the Mt. Lebanon and Point Park alum was so stunned by one fun factoid that he let out a hearty laugh in disbelief. After Mike Sullivan was relieved of duties in April after 10 seasons...
Pirates add big bat by agreeing with DH Marcell Ozuna on 1-year contract
The Pittsburgh Pirates completed the final piece of the puzzle in an aggressive offseason designed to add some pop to baseball’s least productive offense by agreeing Monday morning to a free-agent deal with Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna will sign a one-year contract for $12 million, pending the passing of a physical,...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Top storylines to watch for as Pirates start spring training
The Pittsburgh Pirates have endured seven consecutive losing seasons, finishing either in last place or tied for last in six of them, so it’s not often they are associated with consensus or unanimous in a positive way. But the Pirates enter spring training with the unanimous winner of the National...
Pirates by Position: Whether a 1-man job or rotation, designated hitter could be different
Despite their pursuit of pop in free agency, the Pittsburgh Pirates have maintained their position that the designated hitter doesn’t necessarily have to be a one-man job. The DH spot has been occupied the past three seasons by Andrew McCutchen, but the 39-year-old franchise icon remains an unsigned free agent...
Pirates by position: Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds look to bounce back; expect battle in left field
Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds are considered unquestioned starters who compose two-thirds of the outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates, yet both provided plenty of question marks last season. With Cruz in center field and Reynolds in right, the Pirates are more concerned with who will cover the cavernous ground in...
7 Pirates, including Paul Skenes, named to World Baseball Classic rosters
Rosters for the 20 teams in the 2026 World Baseball Classic were revealed Thursday evening, including seven Pittsburgh Pirates players. Paul Skenes (United States), Oneil Cruz, Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto (Dominican Republic), Spencer Horwitz (Israel), Nick Gonzales (Mexico) and Kyle Nicolas (Italy) will play in the international tournament held...
Pirates add pitching depth by signing righty Jose Urquidy
The Pittsburgh Pirates struck out on another top free agent target when left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez signed with the Detroit Tigers but added one of his former teammates Thursday. The Pirates agreed to sign right-hander Jose Urquidy to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, a source confirmed to TribLive. The 30-year-old...
Pirates by Position: Infield adds 2 All-Stars, but will Konnor Griffin start season at shortstop?
The Pittsburgh Pirates opened last season with a pair of Gold Glove winners on the left side of the infield — shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes — and question marks on the right side. This spring, their lineup could feature a pair of All-Stars — first baseman...
Led by top prospect Konnor Griffin, Pirates boast Baseball America’s No. 1 farm system
Boosted by shortstop Konnor Griffin, baseball’s No. 1 prospect, the Pittsburgh Pirates can claim the sport’s top farm system according to Baseball America rankings released Wednesday. The Pirates boast four of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects: Griffin, right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler (No. 15), outfielder Edward Florentino (No. 28) and right-hander...
Pirates by Position: Endy Rodriguez, Rafael Flores look to fit in at catcher
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting lineup included Endy Rodriguez on Opening Day and Rafael Flores in the season finale, but the 25-year-olds will start spring training wondering where they fit into the roster. Although both are catchers who can play first base, the majority of their major-league starts came at the...
Pirates add 6 non-roster invitees to big league camp
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced an additional six players will attend big league camp as non-roster invitees. Catcher Derek Berg, first baseman Nick Cimillo, right-handed pitcher Michael Darrell-Hicks, left-handed pitcher Nick Dombkowski, outfielder/infielder Mitch Jebb and infielder Alika Williams were invited to camp, which opens Feb. 16 at Pirate City in...
Pirates by position: Bullpen boosted by addition of a pair of flamethrowing lefties
The Pittsburgh Pirates knew the Tampa Bay Rays had a left-handed reliever with a reputation for his impressive velocity but didn’t know much more about him. After throwing 15 of his 16 pitches for strikes — touching triple digits on a handful, including a 102.2 four-seamer against Joey Bart —...
Mark Madden: Zero chance Will Howard starts for the Steelers and more sports notes
Like the snowflakes that clog your driveway, no two refreshing sports notes are exactly alike! I also use a shovel. • Will Howard will not start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Zero chance. He’s a sixth-round pick with all the attached limitations. When new coach Mike McCarthy praises Howard,...
Pirates by Position: Paul Skenes anchors starting rotation expecting battle at back end
The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their offseason on the premise that they had a solid foundation with their starting pitching, one that was deep enough to allow them to address their offensive inefficiencies. With a rotation anchored by 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and featuring former All-Star...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: The Pirates whiffed on Eugenio Suarez
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less The Pirates had the second-most strikeouts in the National League last season. They whiffed 1,422 times. Add one more. Bob Nutting and Ben Cherington watched a fastball go right down the middle. The Pirates desperately need a third baseman....
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates ace Paul Skenes has something up sleeve with ‘sleeper’
When MLB Network ranked its “Top 10 Starting Pitchers Right Now” on Wednesday night, the biggest revelation involved Paul Skenes, but it wasn’t that the Pittsburgh Pirates ace didn’t rank at the top of the list. Skenes has something up his sleeve in the form of a new pitch. That...
Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz excited to have more offensive firepower in lineup
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ returning players have shared their excitement regarding how the club has navigated the offseason, acquiring a multitude of proven big-leaguers. First baseman Ryan O’Hearn, second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and relievers Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto should help the club immediately in 2026. Spencer Horwitz,...
Building a consensus: Pirates abuzz about Konnor Griffin being baseball’s No. 1 prospect
Some of the biggest buzz for the Pittsburgh Pirates surrounded a shortstop who was neither in attendance at PiratesFest nor has played a game yet in the major leagues but is being billed as a future superstar. Konnor Griffin became baseball’s consensus No. 1 prospect entering the 2026 season when...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: The Pirates owe Andrew McCutchen this much: Tell him they’re moving on
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less. Breakups are hurtful, in life and pro sports. Feelings are injured. Resentments are formed. It wasn’t pretty when the Pittsburgh Steelers moved on from Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger, who wanted to keep playing. Feelings were injured....
