Kevin Gorman stories, Page 17

BRADENTON, Fla. — Andrew McCutchen was the last Pittsburgh Pirates player to report to spring training, an arrival befitting a 15-year veteran who is a five-time All-Star and former National League MVP. McCutchen took batting practice in the cages with hitting coach Andy Haines on Saturday afternoon at Pirate City....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...