The Pirates announced the player-to-be-named in the Travis Snider trade with Baltimore. The team acquired 22-year-old LHP Steven Brault from the Orioles High-A Frederick organization. Brault, an 11th round pick by the Orioles in the 2013 Amateur Draft, posted an 11-8 record with a 2.77 ERA and a 0.984 WHIP in 24 starts (25 games) in 2014 between Class-A Delmarva and High-A Frederick. Brault's fastball sits 90-92 mph with some sink to it. He also has a decent slider and change up that ... Read More
Pirates unveil new performance center at Pirate City
The Pittsburgh Pirates today officially unveiled the new 12,240-square-foot performance center at Pirate City, the Pirates’ training facility in Bradenton, Florida. The new two-story performance center, which was constructed adjacent to the existing dining facility, combines leading edge technology with coaching, training and recovery support. It is designed to support the club’s year-round athletic performance and rehabilitation programs in Bradenton. The center includes coaches’ offices, ... Read More
Alvarez wins arbitration hearing
Pedro Alvarez has won his arbitration hearing against the Pirates and will earn $5.75 million this season. The Pirates offer was $5.25 million. Alvarez got the decision despite an all-around down year leading the league in errors committed while only posting a .231/.312/.405 slash line with 18 home runs — 18 less than in 2013. Alvarez will try to get back on track this season as he will complete the move to first base during the spring. The Pirates have no more players in arbitration ... Read More
Pirates new affiliate unveils logo
The West Virginia Black Bears — a Low-A short-season affiliate of the Pirates — unveiled their new logo on Wednesday at a press conference in Morgantown, WV. PRESS RELEASE – With anticipation building for Opening Day, the Black Bears today unveiled their exciting new primary team logo that combines the scenic natural beauty of their West Virginian home with the strength and power represented by the Black Bears’ name. Opening Day of the inaugural season of Black Bears baseball is just 121 ... Read More
Pirates joining their city brethren in one category
Want to hear something that might surprise you? The Pirates are the third-most popular team in Pittsburgh, at least when it comes to ratings and branding studies. And according to Dejan Kovacevic of DK on Pittsburgh Sports, it isn't close. What the Pirates are closing the gap on, however, is the expectations they carry when starting their 162-game campaign. Yeah, that's right. The Pirates now have to meet expectations. But this time, unlike the past two decades, they are positive. It ... Read More
Pirates spring training: Three things to watch
1) Pedro Alvarez's move to first Alvarez has the potential to be a 30+ home run guy — as seen during the 2013 season — but his defensive struggles last season may have aided in his lack of offense (.231/.312/.405 slash with 18 home runs in 122 games). Although he didn't attend voluntary workouts in Bradenton, Alvarez has reportedly been working out in Nashville during the offseason and is at 100% health going into spring training. A change to first could help Alvarez focus solely on his ... Read More
Pirates enter spring training with unanswered questions
As the equipment trucks make their way from Pittsburgh to Bradenton, questions still remain with the Pirates. One arbitration case remains Pedro Alvarez is the lone arbitration case that remains open on the Pirates roster. His case will decide the Pirates $5.25 million asking price against his $5.75 asking price. Vance Worley won his case and will earn $2.45 million while the Pirates won it's case against Neil Walker as he will receive $8 million. Walker's dollar amount is not the ... Read More
COLUMN: Changes that baseball really needs to make
New commissioner Rob Manfred has really turned some heads in his first offseason as the commissioner of Major League Baseball. First, in an interview with ESPN, Manfred said that he would consider eliminating defensive shifts to inject some more offense into baseball. To be fair, Manfred didn't say this WAS going to happen, just that he was considering it. In a league that is struggling to produce offense in the non-steroid era, and with pitchers as dominate as ever, I can understand why he ... Read More
Bullpen should be strong again for Pirates
Much like the offensive line on a football team, a Major League bullpen can make or a break a club despite the often unrecognizable or unheralded names. The general fan may only be able to name one or two of the arms in the Pittsburgh Pirates 'pen, but if you have really been paying attention, you ought to know the importance of this group to the team's success over the past couple of seasons. In 2015, manager Clint Hurdle will have a myriad of quality options for the various scenarios he ... Read More
Pirates acquire Salcedo from Braves
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to stockpile for the 2015 season as they have acquired AAA utility INF/OF Edward Salcedo from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for High-A RHP Bryton Trepagnier. Salcedo (23) played his first full year in AAA last season posting a .212/.294/.357 slash line and a .651 OPS with 10 home runs, 21 doubles and 44 RBI in 110 games (413 PA) for Gwinnett of the International League. Salcedo was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Braves in 2010 and has a ... Read More