Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates News and Press

New showcase for top Dominican and Venezuelan prospects brings structure and order to scouting (Yahoo! Sports)
Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:13:00 PST
The inaugural event for 15- and 16-year-olds could curb age and name falsifications while protecting players from unscrupulous agents.

Pirates Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:38:46 PST

Pitchers and catchers don't report until later this month, and the Pirates are pretty much set with their everyday lineup.

Yes, seriously.

A team that lost 90 games in 2011, that made precious few waves this offseason, that has a 19-year streak of losing seasons will enter spring training with all but two everyday positions set for 2012. That's according to manager Clint Hurdle, who identified third baseman Pedro Alvarez and left fielder Alex Presley as the exceptions. And even those two will be considered starters unless things change.

"They will get the first shot," Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Either the Pirates have cause to be confident that essentially the same group of players will dramatically improve, or they could be guilty of...

#ejaxtobucs: Fans use Twitter to unsuccessfully ask Edwin Jackson to sign with the Pirates (Yahoo! Sports)
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:34:09 PST
Despite the amount of riches falling on other players, the free-agent market has yet to shower anything on Edwin Jackson. Being a reliable 28-year-old workhorse with occasional "really good stuff" apparently doesn't go as far as it used to. While … Continue reading →

Colorado GM tries a classic Rockies approach (Yahoo! Sports)
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:31:00 PST
Dan O'Dowd turned to a collection of graybeards in pursuit of consistency that has eluded the Rockies.

Pirates Summer Schedule Shows the Big Market Teams Have Advantage Once Again: Fan's Opinion (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:04:00 PST
Every news story that involves my Pittsburgh Pirates or the New York Yankees is just a reminder of how unfair Major League Baseball is. The Yankees are able to pay whatever amount of money they want to acquire the services of anybody they want.

MLB Roundup: Ortiz likely headed to arbitration, Lannan and Nats go head to head (Yahoo! Sports)
Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:55:16 PST
David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox are likely headed to an arbitration hearing to determine the designated hitter's 2012 salary, according to an ESPN.com report. A hearing isn't scheduled for this week, leaving time to negotiate, the report said, citing a source.

Pirates sign RHP Juan Cruz to minor league deal (AP)
Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:43:31 PST
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed reliever Juan Cruz to a minor league contract and will invite him to spring training. The 33-year-old Cruz went 5-0 with a 3.88 ERA in 56 relief appearances with Tampa Bay last season. He's previously pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals.

The NFL transforms the Pirates’ minor-league field into a giant beach for Super Bowl week (Video) (Yahoo! Sports)
Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:16:08 PST
As a proud son of the Midwest, I've always wanted to attend a game at Victory Field, the downtown home of the Indianapolis Indians. It's a nice-looking ballpark and it plays home to the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates (so, … Continue reading →

Jays president Beeston applies some pressure (The Canadian Press)
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:24:12 PST
TORONTO - Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was in the hotseat at the team's annual State of the Franchise on Monday night.

Brewers' Morgan to lace up skates with Sharks (The Canadian Press)
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:29:05 PST
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Nyjer Morgan is getting back to his hockey roots.

Mark Cuban explains why his Dodgers bid failed (Yahoo! Sports)
Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:10:32 PST
MarkCubanSaveTheDodgers.com was left with a useless domain name and an overrun of extra T-shirts when it was reported over the weekend that Mark Cuban had not survived the first round of bidding for the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Monday, everyone's … Continue reading →

MLB 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Schedule (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:04:00 PST
With the start of spring training right around the corner, fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty to look forward to this season. Will this be the year the Brewers take it to the next level and claim a National League Central championship?

The Pittsburgh Pirates Should Trade for New York's AJ Burnett?: Fan's Opinion (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:44:00 PST
It was reported back in early January that the Pittsburgh Pirates requested interest in the New York Yankees' A. J. Burnett but nothing came of it. The Pirates should start up talks again because AJ Burnett is a valuable commodity to the Pirates.

Brewers brace for Braun ruling after losing Prince (Yahoo! Sports)
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:42:00 PST
Having already bid adieu to Prince Fielder, Milwaukee will next learn when NL MVP Ryan Braun will play his first game.

MLB Roundup: Yanks' A-Rod expects DH rotation (Yahoo! Sports)
Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:55:11 PST
Alex Rodriguez is excited about the prospect of playing with newly acquired pitcher Michael Pineda -- and looks forward to doing so at third base more than as a designated hitter. In an interview with ESPNdeportes, Rodriguez lauded the New York Yankees' new, young pitcher while...

Astros sign C Snyder to 1-year deal (Yahoo! Sports)
Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:10:15 PST
The Houston Astros signed catcher Chris Snyder to a one-year deal, with a mutual option for another season, the team announced Friday. Snyder played most of his eight seasons for the Arizona Diamondbacks, before getting sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010.

Spring Training 2012: Hotels in Bradenton, Florida (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:52:00 PST
Are you planning on getting a hotel in Bradenton, Fla., to watch some spring training baseball? The Pittsburgh Pirates play their spring training games in Bradenton at McKechnie Field. Ticket prices for the games range from $10 to $18.

Astros agree to contract with catcher Chris Snyder (PA SportsTicker)
Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:24:59 PST
Free agent catcher Chris Snyder has agreed to a one-year contract with the Houston Astros, a deal that includes a 2013 mutual option.

Pirates reach deals with RHPs Karstens, Meek (AP)
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:38:46 PST
Jeff Karstens and the Pittsburgh Pirates have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $3.1 million, one-year contract. The 29-year-old right-hander went 9-9 with a 3.38 ERA in 2011, posting career highs in wins, strikeouts (72) and innings (162 1-3). The deal Tuesday gives him a raise from $1.15 million.

Ryan Ludwick joining the Reds (Yahoo! Sports)
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:03:24 PST
Outfielder Ryan Ludwick played 38 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season after being traded from the San Diego Padres. Now he's moving on again. According to Fox Sports, Ludwick has signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds with … Continue reading →

Pirates reach agreement with closer Hanrahan (Yahoo! Sports)
Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:30:22 PST
The Pittsburgh Pirates reached agreements with closer Joel Hanrahan and starting pitcher Charlie Morton on Monday, avoiding arbitration with both. Hanrahan, an All-Star last season when he had 40 saves and a 1.83 earned run average, received a deal worth $4.1 million, according to...

Pirates avoid arbitration with Hanrahan and Morton (Yahoo! Sports)
Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:35:22 PST
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with closer Joel Hanrahan and starter Charlie Morton on Monday by signing both pitchers to one-year contracts. Hanrahan, 30, will have a $4.1 million salary in 2012 while Morton, 28, will have a salary of $2.445 million.

Pirates agree to terms with Hanrahan, Morton (AP)
Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:04:25 PST
All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan agreed Monday to a $4.1 million, one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and right-hander Charlie Morton struck a one-year deal worth $2,445,000. Hanrahan went 1-4 with a 1.83 ERA while saving 40 games for the Pirates in 2011, helping the team to a 15-game improvement over 2010.

Resop, Pirates agree to a one-year deal (AP)
Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:29:31 PST
Relief pitcher Chris Resop and the Pirates agreed on Friday to a one-year contract, worth $850,000. Resop made $431,500 last year, in going 5-4 with a 4.39 ERA. He also had 79 strikeouts, 30 walks and a 1.48 WHIP as the Pirates finished 72-90. Resop and Pittsburgh surprisingly contended in the National League Central for most of the season before running out of gas late, finishing 24 games behind...

Next step for Pirates is losing with style (Yahoo! Sports)
Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:58:00 PST
The "sloppy" Bucs need to stress fundamentals to show progress in what should be the franchise's 20th straight losing season.

Indians still shopping for big bat (PA SportsTicker)
Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:47:11 PST
By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer