As reported by the Tribune Review, tensions recently flared between Gerrit Cole and the Pirates' management. As a quick primer, Cole was upset at the club's offer for his 2016 salary. While the initial offer was for $538,000, general manager Neal Huntington later admitted that figure to be a mistake. The final offer, signed by Cole, is for $541,000. For those who may not know, any MLB player with 0-3 years of service (or, "Pre-Arbitration") is subject to the league minimum salary of ... Read More
COLUMN: The fight to keep McCutchen a Pirate may not be about money
At this very moment, there seems to be no hotter topic in Pittsburgh sports than Andrew McCutchen's contract. It's easy to understand why. Rightfully lauded as a masterstroke by general manager Neal Huntington, McCutchen's contract extension is often served up as an example of a forward-thinking front office. It represents the very hope of fans that the team will continue to do right by them and at least explore the possibility of another extension for the perennial MVP candidate. For his ... Read More
Pirates add fourth OF option in Matt Joyce
National baseball writer Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Pirates have signed former American League All-Star Matt Joyce to a minor league deal. Below are Joyce's career stats as well as his 162-game average. ... Read More
Pirates spring training preview: Pirates young outfield ready to take next step
As part of our Spring Training preview, we will be highlighting each unit of the Pittsburgh Pirates, spotlighting what they might be working on as they get ready to face the rigors of the Major League Baseball season. In part one we focused on what the starting rotation should work on. Now, the outfielders get their turn. The Pittsburgh Pirates have arguably the best young outfield in baseball. Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen combined for 12.9 WAR (wins above ... Read More
Pirates mailbag part 2: Hot take – Pirates are still really good
With Spring Training thankfully less than a month away for your Pittsburgh Pirates, what better time to open the doors to questions from our readership?We recently put out a call for any burning questions you may have regarding the Pirates. As you can probably expect, the questions were many and varied.We had so many in fact that we had to break it up into two parts. You can catch up on part one right here.Now, here's the best of the rest.QUESTION: How long will it take all the fair-weather fans ... Read More
Pirates spring training preview: Searage to get to work early
The Pittsburgh Pirates' assembled pitchers and catchers will report to the club's Bradenton, Florida headquarters on Feb. 18. The next day, the first pitches that have any true bearing on the 2016 season - albeit tangentially - will be thrown.Ostensibly used as a means for pitchers to ramp their arms up for a full season's work load, the extra time at Pirate City can also be used for Ray Searage and company to get a jump start on the multitude of work that goes into getting a full pitching staff ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates acquire LHP prospect Jesse Biddle from Phillies
The Pittsburgh Pirates took a longview approach to their bullpen in the latest acquisiton.It has been reported by multiple outlets that the team has acquired left-handed pitching prospect Jesse Biddle from the Phillies. Interestingly enough, Biddle was designated for assignment last week when the Phillies picked up former Pirates left-handed reliever Bobby LaFromboise. Biddle comes to the Pirates system having suffered through elbow pain in 2015 that eventually resulted in Tommy John surgery in ... Read More
Pirates mailbag: Vogelsong, really?
With Spring Training thankfully less than a month away for your Pittsburgh Pirates, what better time to open the doors to questions from our readership?We recently put out a call for any burning questions you may have regarding the Pirates. As you can probably expect, the questions were many and varied. Here's a selection of some of the best queries that we received.QUESTION: Are we ever going to get a power hitting first baseman?ANSWER: On the surface, it's easy to understand the hand-wringing ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates announce hiring of Joe Block to replace Tim Neverett
Via their official Twitter account, the Pittsburgh Pirates today announced the hiring of former Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play broadcater Joe Block.Block replaces the recently departed Tim Neverett, who took a play by play job with the Boston Red Sox.Pirates President Frank Coonelly issued a statement regarding Block's hire:"Joe's play-by-play ability, diverse experience, strong work ethic and genuine desire to beomce a permanent part of the Pirates family and Pittsburgh community made him our ... Read More
With newfound stability, Chris Stewart focusing on 2016 prep
To hear Chris Stewart tell it, his recently minted extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates is all about stability."Oh, it's huge. For me and my family," Stewart told me recently during a phone interview. "First off, it's knowing where we are going to be for more than a year. It's relieving for us."Surely it was relieving for the Pirates as well, who now have their 2016 catching corps locked up for the foreseeable future. After agreeing to terms with starting catcher Francisco Cervelli to avoid ... Read More