Free-agent infielder Sean Rodriguez, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2015 to 2016, will sign with the Atlanta Braves pending a physical, per Fox Sport's Ken Rosenthal. The deal is for two years and more than $11 million. Sources: #Braves in agreement with free-agent infielder Sean Rodriguez on two-year deal for more than $11M, pending physical. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 24, 2016 Last season, Rodriguez put up the best numbers of his career. While wearing the ... Read More
Column: No clear answer for team MVP
In many respects, it's hard to name an MVP for this year's Pittsburgh Pirates team. There isn't one name that truly sticks out — for once, center fielder Andrew McCutchen won't be topping this list. So, where does that leave us? The following had good seasons, but they still weren't the team MVP, so apologies to: David Freese: On the surface, this appeared to be a desperation signing by Pittsburgh. At the very least, it was a concession that third baseman Jung Ho Kang wouldn't be able ... Read More
Column: Great, now what?
Mercifully, the Pittsburgh Pirates' season (78-83) ended Sunday afternoon after a 10-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Let's be honest for a second, what reason is there for you to waste your time with another recap about how the bullpen didn't hold up their end of the bargain? None? That's what I thought, too. So, let's take a look at what needs to change for next season. This season has been over for some time now, arguably when the offseason ended and both Jeff Locke and Jon ... Read More
Pirates lose three-run lead, fall to Cardinals
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a chance to play spoiler for the St. Louis Cardinals' playoff hopes — they'd be eliminated with a loss and a San Francisco Giants win — but, despite a 3-0 lead before a Cardinal even stepped to the plate, Pittsburgh lost Saturday's game 4-3 at Busch Stadium. This defeat puts the Pirates at 78-82 on the season. Michael Wacha started for the Cardinals and pitched all of one inning. He threw 29 pitches and allowed the three runs on two hits. Those runs came when ... Read More
Jaso’s cycle, Taillon’s pitching give Pirates win vs. Cubs
Just one day after being eliminated from playoff contention, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a historic performance from first baseman John Jaso in an 8-4 victory Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs. Jaso hit for the first cycle in PNC Park's 15-year history after he trippled off Pedro Strop in the seventh inning. “It's an interesting thing,” Jaso said to reporters after the game. “When you have a season where you don't really make it to the playoffs but there are these little moments ... Read More
Neal Huntington examines season, team’s future
For what is likely the final time this season, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington met with reporters to discuss a myriad of topics relating to the past, present and future. Here's an edited transcript of what was said. On pitcher Gerrit Cole’s routine: “Really, his offseason routine has been a good one. We had the challenge in January (right rib inflammation) that we’ll address, but he was working. It’s hard to fault a guy for working when he got off track. Essentially knocked ... Read More
Ejections overshadow offensive slugfest
A back-and-forth Sunday afternoon contest that totaled over four hours of baseball culminated with a 10-7 Washington Nationals victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates held a 7-5 lead going into the eighth inning with set-up man Felipe Rivero (1-5) on the mound against his former team. From the beginning, Rivero couldn't impose his will against those he previously called his teammates. Everything went down hill after a leadoff walk to Stephen Drew, which brought up pinch-hitter ... Read More
Pirates’ defensive miscues helps Nationals clinch NL East
When Washington Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo hired Dusty Baker as the team's manager, fans were unsure of what to think. Baker had been out of baseball for two seasons and was tasked with getting a team considered a National League favorite back into the playoffs after a surprise absence in 2015. After Saturday night's 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates — and with a little help from a 10-7 Philadelphia Phillies victory over the New York ... Read More
Pirates can’t sweep Brewers in 3-1 loss
All that separates the Pittsburgh Pirates from the end of regular season play is 10 games. And those 10 games are against teams that currently project as playoff teams — the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs concluding the home portion of the regular season-schedule and the St. Louis Cardinals on the road. So it would have been nice to get ‘W’ against a team that's 69-84. But the Pirates couldn't secure a second consecutive road sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, with Pittsburgh falling 3-1 ... Read More
Kuhl, McCutchen, Rodriguez shine in Pirates win
For a good while, the narrative when the Pittsburgh Pirates visited Miller Park was a losing one — the Pirates had struggled in Milwaukee. After Wednesday night's 4-1 Pirates victory against the Milwaukee Brewers, things have changed. Now, the Pirates have won six consecutive meetings between these two teams at Miller Park. The last time the Pirates won six in a row at Miller Park occurred in 2002. Pittsburgh starting pitcher Chad Kuhl (5-3) pitched six innings of one-run baseball, ... Read More