Pirates Blog

PIRATES TRADE FOR YOUNG

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:51:16 GMT

The Pirates have reportedly traded for outfielder Delwyn Young from the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor league players to be named later. Young was once considered one of the Dodgers' top prospects but was never able to secure a spot in the Dodgers' crowded outfield.

Young, 26, had been designated for assignment yesterday after spending most of the offseason recovering from elbow surgery, then being assigned to Class AAA Albuquerque for rehabilitation. Young is a switch-hitter that can play the outfield and second base. No word if he's going to stay with the Pirates or get sent to the minors.

Young was one of the players the Dodgers had been offering to the Pirates in the Jack Wilson trade talks in November and December.

PIRATE ROSTER MOVES

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:56:46 GMT

This afternoon the Pirates made a few roster moves.

Today the Pirates optioned the following players:

Pedro Alvarez to Lynchburg

Jimmy Barthmaier to Indianapolis

Steve Lerud to Altoona

Jeff Sues to Altoona

Ronald Uviedo to Lynchburg

the following players were reassigned to minor league camp:

Shelby Ford

Juan Mateo

Daniel McCutchen

there are now 45 players in camp

BRANDON MOSS UPDATE

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:07:24 GMT

Brandon Moss was examined by Dr. Mark Baratz in Pittsburgh today.

X-rays and an MRI revealed a significant contusion and mild sprain of his right thumb.

He is on his way back to Bradenton, where he will begin treatment to reduce the inflammation and to increase his grip strength.

Brandon should be able to return to baseball activities once the swelling subsides and his grip strength returns.

He should be ready by Opening Day.

PIRATES BEAT THE PHILLIES, 8-2

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:24:25 GMT

Baseball season is in the air! The Pirates opened their 2009 exhibition season with a 8-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Here are the game highlights:

*Freddy Sanchez: 2-2, RBI double
*2B Shelby Ford (2006 3rd round pick) 3-run HR
*A total of nine Pittsburgh relief pitchers combined to hold the Phillies to 2 runs, while striking out eight
*Steve Pearce RBI double
*Rule 5 pick Donnie Veal: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB
*Craig Hansen: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K
*Evan Meek: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Tomorrow: Pirates play the Red Sox. Ian Snell is expected to start against Boston's Jon Lester. Ross Ohlendorf, Jimmy Barthmaier, Denny Bautista and Sean Burnett are also scheduled to pitch.

PIRATES EXCERCISE OPTION ON RUSSELL

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:32:38 GMT

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have exercised the 2010 club option of manager John Russell. The announcement was made by Neal Huntington, the Pirates Senior Vice President and General Manager.

Russell will begin his second season as the manger of the Pirates this year after being named to his current position on November 5, 2007.

“JR met or exceeded expectations in his first year as the Pirates manager. His club worked hard to play the game properly and battled from the first out until the last,” said Huntington. “His leadership, knowledge, attention to detail, ability to see the big picture and passion for things being done the right way made him the ideal choice as our manager a year ago and made the decision to pick up his option for 2010 an easy decision. I look forward to working closely with him for years to come as we build a consistent championship caliber organization in Pittsburgh.”

The 47-year-old Russell is the 38^th manager as the club enters its 123^rd season. In his first season at the helm with Pittsburgh in 2008, Russell guided the Bucs to a 67-95 record. His club posted a National-League best 50-2 record when leading after seven innings last year.

PIRATES LOSE T.J. BEAM

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:35:08 GMT

The Pirates have lost right-hander T.J. Beam to the Blue Jays. Days after Beam was designated for assignment in order to clear a spot on the Pirates' 40-man roster for Eric Hinske, Toronto claimed the 28-year-old right-hander off waivers.

The Pirates had been hopeful that Beam would clear waivers and could therefore have been assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Beam was seen as a legitimate candidate to compete for one of the team's final bullpen spots this spring.

Beam split 2008 between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. In 32 relief appearances for the Pirates, Beam went 2-2 with a 4.14 ERA and one save. He walked 20 and struck out 24

Courtesy: Pirates.com

PIRATES SIGN 2 MINOR LEAGUE FREE AGENTS

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:09:41 GMT

The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed right-handed pitcher Brian Slocum to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp. The 27-year-old Slocum spent a majority of the 2008 season with Buffalo (Indians’ AAA), where he went 3-7 with a 4.85 ERA (85.1ip/46er) in 30 games (11 starts). Slocum also made a pair of relief appearances with the Indians.

Slocum was originally selected by Cleveland in the second round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. During the 2004 campaign he led all Carolina League pitchers with 15 wins while tying for the league lead in complete games (2) and shutouts (2). He made his major league debut on April 22, 2006, and has a career record of 0-0 with a 7.78 ERA (19.2ip/17er) in 10 games (two starts) in the big leagues.

The Pirates have also signed outfielder Yohan Silva to a minor league contract and assigned him to Double-A Altoona. The 23-year-old switch hitting outfielder hit a combined .205 (32-for-156) with 11 doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI in 53 games in the Braves minor league system between Myrtle Beach, Rome and the GCL Braves in 2008. Silva was signed by Atlanta as a non-drafted free agent on July 3, 2001.

PIRATES HIRE CHAMPION

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:27:21 GMT

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have hired Keith Champion as a Special Assistant to Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.

Champion, 49, spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons as a Professional Scout with the Boston Red Sox. Prior to joining the Red Sox, he worked 12 years (1995-2006) with the Chicago Cubs as an Advance Scout (1995-99) and a Special Assistant to the General Manager (2000-06).

After spending 10 years in the St. Louis minor league system as a player (1982-84), coach (1985- 87) and manager (1988-1991), Champion also managed in the San Diego organization three seasons (1992-94) before joining the Cubs.

4 PLAYERS DROPPED FROM 40-MAN ROSTER

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:53:59 GMT

The Pirates today assigned outright to Triple-A Indianapolis the following four pitchers:

RHP Ronald Belisario

RHP Yoslan Herrera

RHP Marino Salas

RHP John Van Benschoten

the club's 40-man roster currently has 36 players, plus two on the 60-day D.L. - 17 pitchers (+2 on 60-day DL), 4 catchers, 10 infielders and 5 outfielders.

PIRATES HIRE JOE KERRIGAN

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:27:45 GMT

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that Joe Kerrigan has been named Pitching Coach for the Major League Club.

Kerrigan, who spent the 2008 season in Philadelphia as a pre and post game radio/TV personality covering the National League Champion Phillies, served the New York Yankees as Bullpen Coach for two seasons (2006-07) after working as a special advisor to Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman in 2005.

Prior to joining the Yankees, Kerrigan spent two seasons (2003-04) as the Pitching Coach with Philadelphia. He also spent parts of five seasons in the same capacitywith Boston (1997-2001), until succeeding Jimy Williams as the 42nd manager in Red Sox history on August 16, 2001. During his tenure in Boston, his pitching staffs compiled an 823-687 record while Pedro Martinez captured two Cy Young Awards (1999 and 2000). Boston also led the American League in ERA, shutouts and strikeouts, while allowing the fewest hits, walks and runs in 1999.

“Joe Kerrigan brings to the Pirates, a long and successful track record of developing and maximizing the performance of the pitchers on his staff,” said Huntington. “His teaching ability, work ethic and game planning will pay immediate dividends. Joe’s passion, knowledge and experience will make a quality impact on our organization.”