Pirates to renew emphasis on conditioning
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:34:00 -0500)
The Bucs have hired not one but two strength and conditioning coaches. Ben Potenziano, the Giants' strength and conditioning coach the previous six seasons, has taken over as the Pirates' assistant athletic trainer. And Brendon Huttman, the Dodgers' strength and conditioning coach since 2008, has assumed the same position with the Pirates.

Pirates sign lefty Tallet to Minor League deal
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:13:00 -0500)
Brian Tallet, a 34-year-old left-hander who has had some Major League success as a matchup reliever, has been signed to a Minor League contract by the Pirates.

Roberts broke Bucs' color line admirably
(Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500)
Curt Roberts is merely a footnote in baseball history. Maybe not even that. A lightweight second baseman by any measure, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound native of Pineland, Texas, hit .223 in 171 Major League games. He homered once in 575 at-bats. No reason to be remembered at all.

Bucs happy to see Pujols, Prince exit NL stage
(Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:10:00 -0500)
A clever advertising campaign that hits all the right notes touts a line of automobiles "imported from Detroit." Most of the National League Central is relieved that, in another domestic development, Prince Fielder has been "exported to Detroit."

Bucs ink veteran reliever Cruz to Minors deal
(Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:06:00 -0500)
Right-hander Juan Cruz, a valuable member of Tampa Bay's bullpen last season, has been signed to a Minor League contract by the Pirates, a deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training.

Report: Pirates' Sanchez part of October scuffle
(Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:22:00 -0500)
Tony Sanchez's offseason got off to a troubling start, according to a published report that the Pirates' top pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft suffered a broken jaw in a barroom scuffle.

Around the Horn: Pirates starting rotation
(Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:21:00 -0500)
If 2011 was Pittsburgh's "Tale of Two Seasons," its narrator was Kevin Correia.

Jones, McGehee seem headed for arbitration
(Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:55:00 -0500)
Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee will soon head to Bradenton, Fla., as the Pirates' top candidates to man first base. The two have something else in common: They're Pittsburgh's only remaining unsigned players eligible for salary arbitration.

Singer's blog: Change for a Nickel
(Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:34:48 -0500)


Inbox: Why did Bucs tab Bedard, not Maholm?
(Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:50:00 -0500)
Jenifer Langosch examines why the Bucs signed Erik Bedard instead of Paul Maholm, who would close if Joel Hanrahan was hurt, and more in her final Pirates Inbox.

Taillon leads Bucs prospects among Top 100
(Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:00 -0500)
Four Pirates prospects cracked MLB.com's Top 100 list this year, including Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole, who landed among the top 11 prospects heading into the 2012 season.

Around the Horn: Pirates outfielders
(Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:47:00 -0500)
This is the fourth of a seven-part Around the Horn series that will take a position-by-position look at the Pirates' outfield -- both projected starters and other options -- heading into Spring Training.

Marte No. 7 on list of top OF prospects
(Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:54:07 -0500)


Dickerson No. 9 on list of top 1B prospects
(Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:44:19 -0500)


Morse to represent Pirates on 'Baseball IQ'
(Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:38:00 -0500)
Pirates front-office member Steve Morse is slated to represent the organization on MLB Network's new game show, which premieres at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The show, titled "Baseball IQ," pits two contestants against one another during rounds of baseball trivia.

Around the Horn: Catchers
(Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:30:00 -0500)
As the Pirates survey their catching options for 2012, the landscape is certainly quite different than it was a year ago. Rod Barajas will likely get two-thirds of the starts, with Michael McKenry serving as the backup.

Pirates announce postgame concert lineup
(Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:15:00 -0500)
Legendary groups Styx and Boyz II Men will perform following selected home games this year at PNC Park as part of the Pirates' popular "Skyblast" series, which encompasses a live concert and postgame fireworks.

Karstens, Meek agree to one-year contracts
(Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:53:00 -0500)
The Pirates reached contract agreements with right-handed pitchers Jeff Karstens and Evan Meek on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration.

Top pick Cole among six invited to spring camp
(Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:02:00 -0500)
Pitching prospect Gerrit Cole, the top overall pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft, was among six players invited to Major League Spring Training by the Pirates on Tuesday.

Hanrahan, Morton get deals to avoid arbitration
(Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:40:00 -0500)
The Pirates reached deals with closer Joel Hanrahan and starter Charlie Morton on Monday, avoiding arbitration with both players. Hanrahan's deal is worth $4.1 million, and Morton will receive $2.445 million next season.