As the Pittsburgh Pirates go into the 2015 season, it is not as a team looking for an identity, anymore. It goes into this season as regulars that expect nothing less than their main goal of winning the final game of the season and hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy. It may feel different to fans being called "regulars" after everything they have endured since that night in October way back in 1992, but it's now the truth. And don't think this is only with the Pirates' fanbase, ... Read More
Walker the key to the Pirates signing of Kang
When the Pirates emerged as the winner of the Jung-ho Kang sweepstakes, one name instantly popped in the mind of Pirates' fans around the world: Jordy Mercer. It's fair, after all. Kang played shortstop, and the Pirates didn't bid $5 million for the rights to negotiate with him just to have him as depth, did they? Well, on the surface, it seemed that way. MLB network did, in case you missed it, name Mercer as the sixth best shortstop in baseball. Not that I agree with that, but it's not like ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates acquire Steve Lombardozzi from Baltimore Orioles
The Pirates announced on Tuesday that they have acquired infielder Steve Lombardozzi from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations. It's the second move with the Orioles in as many weeks, as outfielder Travis Snider was shipped to Baltimore last week in exchange for pitcher Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named later. Lombardozzi has received an invite to the Pirates Major League spring training camp. Lombardozzi appeared in just 20 games for the Orioles last year, ... Read More
Pirates place seven prospects on MLB’s Top 100 list
The Pittsburgh Pirates have made great strides in rebuilding the organization since the current management team took over in 2007. Not only has the Major League club come from being cellar-dwellers to playoff contenders, but the farm system has gone from barren to one of the best in baseball as seven of the club's top prospects have been placed on MLB's Top 100 prospects list. The seven prospects are the most that any team in the majors has on the list. 12) RHP Tyler Glasnow - The Pirates ... Read More
Snider trade opens Pirates outfield logjam
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded OF Travis Snider to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in exchange for a minor league prospect and a PTBNL. Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington told Rob Biertempfel of the Trib that the trade opens up some "payroll flexibility". #Pirates GM: "We have depth to sustain the loss. We've gained two quality players, created roster flexibility and some payroll flexibity." — Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) January 28, 2015 Biertempfel also reports HERE that it ... Read More
Pirates fully confident in Polanco after Snider deal
As sprint training neared, it looked as if the Pirates had their 13 position players cemented in stone. Starling Marte Andrew McCutchen Gregory Polanco Travis Snider Neil Walker Pedro Alvarez Josh Harrison Francisco Cervelli Jordy Mercer Jung-Ho Kang Corey Hart Chris Stewart Sean Rodriguez It was as simple as that. A spring training with very little questions. But, that changed on Tuesday night, as the Pirates traded Snider to the Orioles for 21-year-old ... Read More
Pirates trade Travis Snider to Baltimore
The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded outfielder Travis Snider to the Baltimore Orioles for left-handed pitcher Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named later. Tarpley was the Orioles’ third-round pick in the 2013 MLB draft. The 21-year old played his second professional season at low-A Abedereen in the Orioles system in 2014. In 13 appearances (12 starts), he was 3-5 with a 3.68 ERA. He pitched 66 innings and had 60 strikeouts and 24 walks. Snider was scheduled to make $2.1 million in the ... Read More
Pirates adjust start times for four home dates, Tucker recovers from thumb surgery
The Pittsburgh Pirates will once gain be in the national spotlight at PNC Park as Major League baseball has scheduled the Pirates to play in primetime. Four games in Pittsburgh have been changed to allow for FOX, FOX Sports 1 and ESPN to broadcast. Fox will now televise the Pirates Saturday, July 11th game against the Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. One day later, the Pirates and Cardinals will renew their rivalry on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball at 8:05 p.m. Fox Sports 1 will also televise ... Read More
Neal Huntington on Jung-ho Kang’s position with Pirates
Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington went on 93.7 "The Fan" on Wednesday to discuss Jung-ho Kang and the Pirates going into the 2015 season. While Huntington has made it clear that Kang will be with the Pirates when they open the season in Cincinnati, he has also stated that the team won't rush the former KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) superstar into a starting role with the team. "We believe he's going to be a very good big league player. A solid regular," Huntington told the Starkey ... Read More
Pirates to go to arbitration with three players
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with nine players prior to Friday's deadline, but still have to go to arbitration hearings with three others. The team was unable to agree to deals with Neal Walker, Pedro Alvarez and Vance Worley and will go to arbitration hearings next month. Most arbitration cases end with the player receiving the mid-point amount between his and the team's one-year contract offer. Walker's camp filed at $9 million while the Pirates countered at $8 million ... Read More