Kevin Gorman stories, Page 40
Pirates sign veteran RHP Chase Anderson to minor league contract for rotation depth
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates continued to address their starting pitching Saturday by signing a former division foe in right-hander Chase Anderson to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training, a source confirmed to TribLive. Anderson, 36, has a 59-56 record, 4.35 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in...
Shock value: Pirates’ rapid response saved Ernie Withers, inspired him to pay it forward
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ernie Withers stood in left-center field at Pirate City, where he almost died during a spring training workout a year ago, and reflected on how the Pittsburgh Pirates saved his life. And, by doing so, saved his wife. When Withers went into sudden cardiac arrest at the...
Pirates seeking stability, leadership from veteran lefty Martin Perez in starting rotation
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates were desperate for starting pitching when they signed Martin Perez, but they were seeking more than a start every fifth day from the veteran left-hander. For Derek Shelton, the goal was simple: stability. The Pirates manager was the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins...
Holy cowhide! Paul Skenes’ throw breaks web in Quinn Priester’s glove while playing catchVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — That Paul Skenes throws heavy is hardly a secret, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander regularly touches triple digits on the radar gun. But the 2023 No. 1 overall pick did something this week at Pirate City that you don’t often see in a friendly game of catch...
Despite signing Aroldis Chapman, Pirates say David Bednar has ‘cemented’ role as closer
BRADENTON, Fla. — David Bednar admits he was “surprised but pumped” when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Aroldis Chapman, a seven-time All-Star who ranks third among active closers with 321 saves, to a one-year, $10.5 million contract in late January. That meant the 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-handed Chapman was going to be...
GM Ben Cherington expects Pirates to be better, continues to search for improvements
TAMPA — The Pittsburgh Pirates entered the offseason with a laundry list of upgrades needed to improve on a 76-win, fourth-place finish in the NL Central, one that got even longer when a starting pitcher and catcher were lost to season-ending elbow surgeries. With a dire need for starting pitching,...
Catching up: Yasmani Grandal embraces opportunity to mentor Pirates catchers
BRADENTON, Fla. — Yasmani Grandal knew the score when he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had a gaping hole at catcher and a former No. 1 overall pick eager for his shot. The 35-year-old backstop, a two-time All-Star in 12 seasons, wasn’t worried about the money. He has more...
Charged Battery: No. 1 overall picks Henry Davis, Paul Skenes in spring training spotlight
BRADENTON, Fla. — Henry Davis and Paul Skenes wanted to treat the first official workout of spring training for Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers as just another day, considering they spent much of the offseason training together here at Pirate City. As No. 1 overall draft picks who are batterymates,...
Pirates sign C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Josh Fleming, place pair on 60-day injured list
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates signed veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal and left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming on Wednesday, the first official day for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training at Pirate City. Pirates manager Derek Shelton indicated that the 35-year-old Grandal, who signed a one-year $2.5 million contract...
With 7 Opening Day starters returning, Pirates start spring training with a sense of stability
BRADENTON, Fla. — For as much as the Pittsburgh Pirates coaching staff values versatility, the players crave a sense of stability. That’s something they finally might have in their lineup this season. As pitchers and catchers reported Wednesday morning to Pirate City for the start of spring training, the Pirates...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates enter spring training with raised expectations, storylines
BRADENTON, Fla. — After starting the season with the best record in the National League through April and finishing the final two months with a winning record, the Pittsburgh Pirates will enter spring training with raised expectations. No longer are the Pirates talking about a rebuild but rather the chance...
Pirates by Position: Awaiting arrival of Paul Skenes, starting rotation full of questions
The Pittsburgh Pirates already planned to prioritize starting pitching before workhorse Johan Oviedo required Tommy John surgery, and Ben Cherington vowed to add to the rotation through free agency and trades. The Pirates general manager promised he had the resources needed this offseason “to get better and to compete and...
Pirates add experience at catcher, agree to 1-year deal with Yasmani GrandalVideo
With Endy Rodriguez out for the season and little experience at catcher, the Pittsburgh Pirates added veteran Yasmani Grandal. Grandal agreed to a one-year contract for $2.5 million plus performance incentives, a source confirmed to TribLive. The 35-year-old backstop, a two-time All-Star, spent the past four seasons with the Chicago...
Pirates by Position: Once a strength, Endy Rodriguez’s injury makes catcher a concern
When the 2023 season ended, general manager Ben Cherington called catcher a position that appeared to be a strength for the Pittsburgh Pirates, in terms of talent and depth. After a mid-July call-up, Endy Rodriguez showed off a strong arm and a positive personality in his rookie season. Jason Delay...
Analysis: Despite a disappointing offseason, the Pirates — fingers crossed — should be better
When the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a season that marked a 14-win jump, Ben Cherington acknowledged the importance of their improvement but stressed the need to keep getting better. The Pirates general manager knows a 76-win season and fourth-place finish in the National League Central isn’t satisfactory. “It starts with me...
Pirates by position: Spring training could see competition at center in a crowded outfield
The Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to begin spring training with six outfielders on their 40-man roster — along with several other possibilities — and two names already penciled into the starting lineup. Pirates manager Derek Shelton shared in late September that Jack Suwinski had joined 2021 All-Star Bryan Reynolds in...
Pirates announce spring training broadcast schedule for Grapefruit League games
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday that SportsNet Pittsburgh will televise a dozen Grapefruit League home games, as well as their March 11 game against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla. The inaugural Spring Breakout game between prospects from the Pirates and Baltimore Orioles at 7 p.m. March 14...
Pirates by Position: Rowdy Tellez hoping to make ‘big impact’ in possible platoon at 1B
When the Pittsburgh Pirates were dissatisfied with their play at first base in 2022, they signed veteran Carlos Santana to a one-year contract worth $6.725 million to shore up the position last season. When the Milwaukee Brewers were dissatisfied with their play at first base last season, they traded for...
Mariners claim former Pirates OF Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers
The Seattle Mariners claimed former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers Wednesday, reuniting him in the same city with his brother. Smith-Njigba, 24, started in right field for the Pirates on Opening Day in Cincinnati last season. The Pirates designated him for assignment Jan. 31 to make room on...
Pirates by Position: Starting job at second base could be biggest battle of spring training
Since Adam Frazier was traded amid an All-Star season in 2021, second base has been something of a misnomer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s more like a short stop. The Pirates have tried 24 players at the position over the past two-plus years, and not one has started even half...
Pirates by Position: Can Oneil Cruz’s return spell the end of revolving door at shortstop?
When Derek Shelton was asked at PiratesFest whether Oneil Cruz would be eased back into the starting lineup or serve as the everyday shortstop, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager gave a roundabout response. Shelton shared that the daily highlight of his offseason came around 1 p.m., when he received an email...
Pirates by Position: Third base in good hands with Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes
For as much as Derek Shelton values versatility, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager has made one thing abundantly clear: As long as Ke’Bryan Hayes is healthy, he will be starting at third base. It’s the one position on the field where the Pirates have few question marks. According to the analytics,...
‘We actually have a pretty good team’: Rowdy Tellez touts Pirates, new teammates
Rowdy Tellez already was familiar with most of the Pittsburgh Pirates roster, but the burly slugger is looking forward to meeting several of his new teammates, especially those who stand his size or taller. A 6-foot-4, 270-pound first baseman who signed a one-year contract with the Pirates last month, Tellez...
Pirates sign 7-time All-Star reliever Aroldis Chapman, DFA OF Canaan Smith-Njigba
Aroldis Chapman was willing to put the past behind him to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, even if it means that the seven-time All-Star reliever won’t be serving as their closer. Chapman signed a one-year contract worth $10.5 million with the Pirates on Wednesday that made the free agent their...
No. 1 pick Paul Skenes leads list of 13 prospects invited to Pirates big league camp
One of the biggest questions for the Pittsburgh Pirates is whether 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes will pitch in the major leagues this season The Pirates won’t have to wait until the summer to see him in black and gold. Skenes is one of five top-100 prospects among...
