Pirates/MLB category, Page 162
Now healthy, catcher Roberto Perez taking a crash course to get to know Pirates pitchers
BRADENTON, Fla. – How Roberto Perez came from Cleveland to Pittsburgh is a story that starts in Toronto, where Ben Cherington worked before becoming Pirates general manager. Cherington gained insight into the two-time AL Gold Glove winner from listening to Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins rave for three years...
Pirates notebook: GM Ben Cherington still pursuing pitching, offensive depth in outfield
BRADENTON, Fla. — Once the lockout was lifted, the Pittsburgh Pirates were raring to go after available starting pitchers and offensive depth in the outfield. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said his baseball operations staff started working the phones Thursday evening in an attempt to add players to the competition...
Pirates GM on new CBA: ‘Nothing changes as far as what we need to do to build a winning team’
BRADENTON, Fla. — Now that the baseball lockout has ended and spring training is officially underway, Ben Cherington tried to put a positive spin on the new collective bargaining agreement that ensures a full 162-game season but does little to benefit the Pittsburgh Pirates. “Nothing changes as far as what...
Pirates season ticket holders can select Grapefruit League home games Monday
The Pittsburgh Pirates will open ticket sales for their revised, nine-game spring training home schedule at LECOM Park on Monday. Starting at 10 a.m., season ticket holders can log into their Pirates Spring Training My Tickets account and select games they would like to attend. Additional tickets can be purchased...
First Call: Steelers still in mix for JuJu Smith-Schuster; Browns pushing for Deshaun Watson; Bryan Reynolds trade talk
Monday’s “First Call” has some possible destinations for Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. If quarterback Deshaun Watson doesn’t come to Pittsburgh, he may wind up elsewhere in the AFC North. An ex-Penguins star is part of a milestone. Former Penn State basketball coach Pat Chambers has a new job. Plus,...
Pirates claim left-handed reliever Aaron Fletcher off waivers from MarinersVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed left-handed reliever Aaron Fletcher off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, bringing their roster to the 40-man maximum. Fletcher, 26, was 0-0 with a 12.38 ERA and 2.75 WHIP, nine strikeouts and no walks in eight innings the past two seasons with Seattle. The 6-foot,...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates have more questions than answers to start spring training
After a 101-loss season followed by a 99-day lockout, the Pittsburgh Pirates start a condensed spring training Monday in Bradenton, Fla., with more questions than answers. They traded Gold Glove catcher Jacob Stallings to Miami, parted ways with starting pitchers Steven Brault and Chad Kuhl and first baseman Colin Moran...
Pirates release revised spring training schedule, starting at home against Yankees
The Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon released a revised 18-game spring training schedule that features a Grapefruit League opener against the New York Yankees on March 18 at LECOM Park in Bradenton. The Pirates will play nine home games and nine away games with one day off in the new...
No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis headlines 28 non-roster invitees to Pirates’ training camp
First-round picks Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales and Quinn Priester are among the 28 non-roster players invited by the Pittsburgh Pirates to their major league spring training camp. Davis, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, is one of six catchers invited to camp as the Pirates search...
After an offseason of turnover, Pirates prepare for spring training position battles
Before baseball’s lockout began, the Pittsburgh Pirates went on what amounted to their type of spending spree. By signing one-year free-agent contracts, pitcher Jose Quintana ($2 million), first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo ($4 million) and catcher Roberto Perez ($5 million) became the club’s highest-paid players and, essentially, locked up three spots...
Baseball is back: MLB, players agree on new CBA to ensure full season; Pirates open April 7
After a lockout that lasted extra innings, baseball is back. On the 99th day of the lockout, MLB and its players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement to ensure a full season that will start April 7 and expands the playoff field to 12 teams. The MLB Players’ Association...
Adapt and evolve: Pirates focus on farm system amid lockout, embracing failure as path to success
With MLB in a lockout, the Pittsburgh Pirates are focusing their attention on their minor league players by embracing a philosophy that can come across as contradictory: In order to succeed, embrace failure. Pirates director of coaching and player development John Baker casually paraphrases Marcus Aurelius in discussing discomfort, the...
Pirates adjust plans for 2022 home opener
After failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the first two series of the regular season. The Pittsburgh Pirates are now tentatively scheduled to open the season April 7 with a four-game series at the St. Louis Cardinals. The...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans have early barbs for Penguins at trade deadline, the Pirates — even the Maulers
Two treats for this week’s “U mad, bro?” First, because of some scheduling quirks, it’s coming a day early. Second, Pittsburgh fans are so special, they have managed to work their way into complaining about a franchise that hasn’t even held its first practice, rules changes that haven’t even been...
Tim Benz: MLB preparing to cancel games soon — is that a threat or a promise?
According to ESPN.com, Major League Baseball will begin canceling regular-season games if the league and its players’ association can’t reach a new collective bargaining agreement by Monday. The games would not be rescheduled. Well, don’t threaten me with a good time. My first thought when I read that was, “Good....
Suggestions for an all-Pirates set list when Metallica plays at PNC Park in August
We found out Thursday that Metallica is going to headline a concert at PNC Park on Aug. 14. The heavy metal band pumped out its first album in 1983 and has built up quite a library. So I thought I might help out by suggesting a Pirates-specific set list for...
If MLB adopts universal DH, Pirates lack in-house candidates beyond 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo
When MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that owners agreed to adopt the universal designated hitter, it promised to end a National League tradition and force the Pittsburgh Pirates to adjust their lineup. For the first time since baseball’s lockout started on Dec. 2, Manfred spoke publicly Thursday at the owners...
MLB, players stop drug testing during lockout
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has stopped testing players for steroids for the first time in nearly 20 years due to the expiration of the sport’s drug agreement, two people familiar with the sport’s Joint Drug Program told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity Monday...
Brewers hire ex-Pirates slugger Pedro Alvarez in baseball operations, player development role
Former Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Pedro Alvarez, who starred on their three wild-card teams from 2013-15, has found a post-playing job with one of their NL Central rivals. The Milwaukee Brewers have hired Alvarez as a baseball operations and player development assistant. Alvarez, 34, is the son-in-law of Brewers bench coach...
Caitlyn Callahan made Pirates history, turning a can’t-miss opportunity into a coaching job
Caitlyn Callahan’s initial interview with the Pittsburgh Pirates felt more like a casual conversation, so she was in her comfort zone in what amounted to an open audition for a job. A day after an hourlong talk with minor league technology and video coordinator Marc Roche about a minor league...
Led by Henry Davis, the Pirates have 6 prospects ranked in top 100 by The Athletic
The Pittsburgh Pirates have six prospects ranked in the top 100 by The Athletic’s Keith Law, including one in the top 20 whose selection is sure to raise some eyebrows. The surprise? Their highest-rated Pirates prospect is catcher Henry Davis, who is ranked No. 20 in The Athletic’s top 100....
Gene Clines, member of 1st all-minority lineup, Pirates’ 1971 World Series champs, dies
Gene Clines took great pride in making baseball history as a member of the first all-minority starting lineup and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1971 World Series champions, especially considering the company. Clines was a backup in an outfield that featured Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell and seven-time All-Star...
Mark Madden: Voters’ decisions hurt Baseball Hall of Fame more than those being excluded
David Ortiz hit 541 career home runs. Barry Bonds hit 762. Ortiz had 1,768 RBIs. Bonds had 2,558. Ortiz hit .286. Bonds hit .298. Ortiz was a DH. Bonds won eight Gold Gloves. Ortiz never won an MVP. Bonds won seven. Ortiz flunked a steroid test in 2003. Bonds never...
Kevin Gorman: Hall of Fame votes for steroids-era players complicated, controversial
My ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame reflects the nature of voting as the game comes to grips with the steroid-era scandal that started with MLB turning a blind eye only to end up with a black eye. It’s complicated, contradictory and controversial. Complicated: There were 30 names...
Pirates make changes to medical staff, as AHN appoints 3 new doctors to provide team care
The Pittsburgh Pirates are making changes to their medical staff, as team physician Dr. Edward Snell is leaving after 22 years to become Allegheny Health Network’s sports performance medical director. Under the guidance of Pirates medical director Dr. Patrick DeMeo, a newly appointed three-man team of AHN doctors will partner...
