The Pittsburgh Pirates added another power arm to their bullpen for the 2016 season on Wednesday, coming to terms with right-handed relief pitcher Neftali Feliz. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports was the first to report the signing. Feliz gets a one-year deal that will pay him $3.9 million. Source: Neftali Feliz, Pirates agree to one-year, $3.9 million deal. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 6, 2016 The 28-year old Feliz made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2009 and has ... Read More
Pirates add 12 to spring training non-roster invitee list
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that they would be inviting 12 additional non-roster prospects to spring training in 2016. Headlining the list is prized catching prospect Reese McGuire. The 20-year old McGuire spent the entirety of the 2015 with the Class A- Advanced Bradenton Marauders, in which he hit .254 with a .595 OPS. By most accounts, his defensive abilities are far ahead of his swing. The invite to spring training comes on the heels of a hot sting in the Arizona Fall League. ... Read More
Top 10 stories of 2015: Pittsburgh teams struggled in spotlight
In case you missed it, Pittsburgh Sporting News is counting down the top 10 Pittsburgh sports stories from 2015. The bottom five of the top five have already been covered, and now the countdown will conclude with the top five biggest stories of 2015. No. 5 – James Conner diagnosed with cancer On Dec. 5, University of Pittsburgh running back announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. The 20-year-old junior was a 2014 All-American and a candidate for the Heisman Trophy in 2015, ... Read More
Is Glasnow ready to make a major league impact in 2016?
For anyone who follows the Pittsburgh Pirates, it is no secret that many questions have surrounded the team this offseason. One of their major question marks surround their starting rotation, which was a part of the second-best pitching staff in all of baseball in 2015. With the departures of both A.J. Burnett and Charlie Morton, the Pirates must construct a new rotation that will likely include Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano and Jeff Locke as returning starters. The Bucs did acquire starting ... Read More
Pirates offseason analyzed: So long
In part two of analyzing the Pirates offseason, take a look at the guys the Pirates parted ways with. Good-byes: Oct. 20 Baltimore Orioles claim Vance Worley off waivers - Worley was a likable guy and very pleasant in the dealings I had with him, but it was clear that the Pirates were done waiting for him to show consistent promise as a starter. Worley had a trying season and saw his time as a starter with the Pirates end in Philadelphia, site of where he had some of his best pitching ... Read More
Top 10 moments in 2015: Some players became favorites, one protested
While no Pittsburgh sports teams brought home titles in 2015, there were still a lot of happenings on and off the field. From athletes returning to Pittsburgh, record breaking performances, late-season let downs and the protest of a quarterback, Pittsburgh Sporting News is counting down the top 10 sports stories in Pittsburgh in 2015. The first half includes stories 10 thru six. No. 10 – Gung Ho for Jung Ho When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Jung Ho Kang to a four-year, $11 million ... Read More
Do the Pittsburgh Pirates have a legitimate cleanup hitter?
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a cleanup hitter problem. Indeed, the fourth spot in the batting order is a nebulous one for the team as it is currently constructed. Traditionally, a hitter in that spot is counted on to provide protection for a team's third hitter and, well, clean up by driving in any runners left on base. Last year, the team felt that the cleanup hitter was enough of a weakness to address it mid-season in the form of welcoming Aramis Ramirez back to the fold. Ramirez ... Read More
Pirates offseason analyzed: New additions
It has been a busy time all around baseball as the 2015 season is over and teams are trying to find the right pieces to make a run toward the 2016 World Series. The Pittsburgh Pirates are no different and have welcomed some faces, while saying goodbye to other ones. Hellos: Oct. 24 Pirates acquire Trevor Williams - This was a bizarre acquisition as this was later revealed to be compensation for the Pirates losing their "pitching guru" in Jim Benedict, someone whose opinion had high ... Read More
Face off Friday: Pirates roundtable
If there's one thing Pittsburgh Pirates fan love, it's debating the team's move during the off-season. The signing of John Jaso and acquisition of Yoervis Medina gave fans plenty of chances to do so. We here at the Pittsburgh Sporting News are no exception. Fellow Pirates contributor Jose Negron and I went back and forth via email on a few key hot stove topics, and that exchange is recounted for you here. On the First Base position... JASON: Jose, it seems as if the Pirates have ... Read More
Pittsburgh Pirates find left-handed 1B in John Jaso
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a busy day today as they made several moves, most notably addressing their intended first base platoon by signing left-handed hitting 1B/OF John Jaso to a two-year/$8million contract. Jaso missed most of 2015 due to injury. He is a seven-year veteran having spent parts of his career with the Mariners, Rays and Athletics. For his career, Jaso has a triple-slash line of .263/.361/.406. By far Jaso's biggest tool is the ability to get on base, with an excellent ... Read More