The Pirates being a mystery team for Manny Machado? Starling Marte to the Dodgers? Some wild Pirates rumors were surfacing Monday from reputable circles but as expected neither rumor has any legs. The Machado talk in particular got some chuckles from those inside the Pirates organization.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Huntington touts Pirates record over last six years
Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington in comments to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette touted the Pirates having the ninth-best record in baseball over the last six years. “We have the ninth-best record in baseball over the last six years,” Huntington told the Post-Gazette. “We are one a few teams that have made the postseason three times in the last seven years.” The Pirates are always an organization on defense from a PR standpoint and it doesn’t get better than this from Huntington: “We have an ownership group fully committed to bringing a title to Pittsburgh.”
Andrew McCutchen is Philadelphia Bound
Andrew McCutchen is Philadelphia bound. McCutchen, 32, has agreed to a three year deal worth approximately $50 million with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to The AthleticPHI. McCutchen batted .255 with 20 home runs and 65 RBIs in 155 games. A player on the downside since the 2016 season, this is a heck of a deal for McCutchen as there were questions whether a three year deal would even be out there for him in free agency.
Pirates slash $9 million in payroll with Ivan Nova trade
The Pittsburgh Pirates today traded SP Ivan Nova to the Chicago White Sox. It’s a move for Pittsburgh that saves them $9 million in 2019. Nova, 31, went 9-9 with a 4.19 ERA in 29 starts. Pittsburgh will receive RHP Yordi Rosario and international slot money from Chicago. Rosario, 19, had a 2.57 ERA in 14 games between the Arizona Fall League and Dominican Summer League in 2018.
Pirates resign Jung Ho Kang to 1 year, $3 million deal
Pirates decline options on Harrison, Kang
The Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday officially declined the 2019 club options for Josh Harrison, Jung Ho Kang, making both free agents. Both will now become free agents. Harrison was due to make $10.5 million and will receive a $1 million buyout. Kang had a $5.5 million option. Of the two, the door is still open to resigning Kang as the Pirates plan to open negotiations with his camp on a lesser number, likely somewhere around the $2.5-$3 million range, a source close to the situation says Harrison a 2-time All Star with the Pirates had a great run in Pittsburgh. The relationship, though, became extremely soured prior to last season when Harrison demanded a trade in the off-season and then failed to back it up with his play in hitting .250, a season mirrored with injuries. The Pirates will likely come out and say the door is still open butRead More »
Pirates finally cut ties with Sean Rodriguez
Pirates owe Clint Hurdle $9 million over next three seasons
One of the Pirates biggest colossal mistakes over the past year was giving Clint Hurdle a new four-year contract worth $12 million. It’s always easy to blame the manager and coach when things go south, they often get too much blame, but things have been building for a while that a new voice was needed going into this season and most importantly a stronger manager in the player development area. From young hitters to pitchers, there hasn’t been enough progression in multiple players. We’re seeing it again with Josh Bell among the primary examples in 2018. All of the fault doesn’t go on Hurdle but he’s the boss and was regarded in MLB circles as an elite hitting coach when hired in 2011. What the Pirates needed to do last season was make a decision on whether a new manager could get more out of their key core players whoRead More »
Multiple teams interested in Josh Harrison
Pirates 2B Josh Harrison officially cleared waivers this week and the Pirates have been gauging trade interest in the two-time All-Star. Harrison, 31, has had a disappointing season in hitting .257/.299/.365 and while Pittsburgh failed to take advantage of Harrison’s trade value being much higher last off-season when the veteran infielder asked for a trade, talk out of the Pirates organization is that ‘multiple teams
Kevin Newman recalled from Indy
Pirates Roster Moves *SS Jordy Mercer placed on the 10-day DL (Retro to August 15) with a left calf strain *OF Jordan Luplow recalled from Indianapolis *OF Jacob Stallings optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis *RHP Casey Sadler designated for assignment *SS Kevin Newman recalled from Indianapolis (contract purchased)
Headlines
Rumors: Mets still in the mix for Starling Marte?
Marte trade likely?
Tue, Dec 10, 2019 11:10am - William DePaoli
NHL: Stars fire Jim Montgomery for unprofessional conduct
Times are changing. Another NHL coach is out for unprofessional conduct
Tue, Dec 10, 2019 10:45am - William DePaoli
Tristan Jarry earns NHL’s 2nd star of week
Tristan Jarry on Monday was named the NHL’s 2nd star of the week. Jarry who has outplayed No. 1 netminder Matt Murray through the first two months of the season, posted back-to-back shutouts for the week ending Dec 8. On Dec 4 Jarry posted a 28 save shutout vs St. Louis ...