Pittsburgh Pirates News

Joey Bart  • C  •  Pirates

Joey Bart Currently The Team's Top Catcher

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on MLB Network that catcher Joey Bart has taken the pole position at catcher heading into the 2025 season. Bart couldn't get going with the San Francisco Giants and was picked up on waivers by the Pirates early on in 2024. The low-cost move worked out for the Pirates, as Bart eventually became the team's starting catcher and finished with a .265/.337/.462 slash line with a career-high 13 home runs, 45 RBI and 38 runs scored in 282 plate appearances over 80 games played. The 28-year-old is in pole position for the starting job in 2025, but he'll need to continue playing well to hold off both Endy Rodriguez (elbow) and former first-rounder Henry Davis. The power and hard-hit skills are the draw with Bart, and it was a nice sign that he lowered his strikeout rate in 2024. However, he'll need regular playing time to be fantasy relevant.
5 days ago   
Nick Solak  • LF  •  Pirates

Pirates Sign Infielder Nick Solak To Minor-League Contract

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed infielder Nick Solak to a minor-league contract. The 29-year-old was drafted in the second round by the Yankees back in 2016, but has spent time in six different organizations since then with Pittsburgh being his seventh. The right-handed hitter debuted with the Rangers in 2019, slashing .293/.393/.491 with a 126 wRC+ in 135 plate appearances, but never posted anything better than an 86 wRC+ in any other season since. The Louisville product enjoyed a solid 2024 campaign at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization, slashing .311/.406/.446, so perhaps there is reason for optimism. The Pirates also recently signed Enmanuel Valdez to an already crowded infield, but if Solak can continue the success he saw in 2024 then maybe he'll prove to be valuable depth later in the 2025 season.
5 days ago   
Enmanuel Valdez  • 2B  •  Pirates

Pirates Acquire Enmanuel Valdez From Red Sox

The Pirates have acquired infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez in a trade with the Red Sox. Minor league pitcher Joe Vogatsky was shipped to Boston in exchange for Valdez. The 25-year-old debuted for Boston in 2023, playing 125 games and posting a .235-12-47-40-6 line in 372 career plate appearances. It's unclear how the Pirates plan to use the left-handed hitter as they already have Nick Gonzales, Jared Triolo, and Nick Yorke who can play his primary position of second base. Vogatsky was the Pirates' 19th-round pick in the 2024 Draft but has yet to make his minor league debut. Neither player figures to have a significant fantasy impact in 2025.
6 days ago   
Mitch Keller  • SP  •  Pirates  |  Jared Jones  • SP  •  Pirates

Jared Jones, Mitch Keller Available For Trade

According to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates have made starting pitchers Jared Jones and Mitch Keller available for trade at the Winter Meetings. Destin noted Jones is "very available." The Pirates have expressed interest in acquiring some offensive pieces, and moving one of these starting pitchers would put them in a good position to acquire a potent bat. Keller has typically operated as the workhorse in the Pittsburgh rotation, logging over 175 innings in each of the past two seasons. Last summer, Keller posted a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Jared Jones made his major league debut last summer and showed great potential. In his first 121 2/3 big league innings, the young right-hander held a 4.14 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while generating a strong 26.2% K rate. With Paul Skenes looking like a clear ace and Bubba Chandler nearing his major league debut, moving one of these starters could provide Pittsburgh a much-needed spark to their lineup.
Dec 12   
Spencer Horwitz  • 2B  •  Pirates

Spencer Horwitz Flipped To Pirates

The Cleveland Guardians traded second baseman/first baseman Spencer Horwitz to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night in exchange for pitchers Luis L. Ortiz, Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy, according to sources. The Guardians traded second baseman Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the day for Horwitz before flipping him to Pittsburgh. Horwitz's best path to playing time in Pittsburgh will likely come at first base, but given his lackluster defensive skills and his struggles against left-handed pitching, the 27-year-old could quickly become a platoon player in his new digs in 2025. The former 24th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2019 out of Radford has hit a combined .264/.355/.428 with a .783 OPS, 13 home runs and 47 RBI in his two big-league seasons over 112 games. The move from Toronto to Pittsburgh is less than ideal for fantasy purposes.
Dec 11   
Spencer Horwitz  • 2B  •  Pirates

Spencer Horwitz Heading To Cleveland

The Cleveland Guardians acquired first baseman/second baseman Spencer Horwitz from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday in the deal that sent second baseman Andres Gimenez and Nick Sandlin to Toronto, according to a source. Horwitz comes with six years of club control -- two years at league minimum and four years of salary arbitration. Horwitz, 27, made his major-league debut in Toronto in 2023 (15 games) and hit .265/.357/.433 with a decent .790 OPS, 12 home runs, 40 RBI and 46 runs scored in 381 trips to the plate over his 97 games played. He has the ability to play multiple positions, but Gimenez now in Toronto, Horwitz figures to see most of his playing time with his new team at the keystone. The left-handed hitter was originally a 24th-round pick by Toronto in 2019 out of Radford. Horwitz's defensive skills pale in comparison to Gimenez, and he could be destined for a platoon role unless he improves against lefty pitchers.
Dec 11   
Endy Rodríguez  • C  •  Pirates

Endy Rodriguez Expected To Be "Fully Healthy" For Spring Training

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said at the MLB winter meetings on Monday that the expectation is that catching prospect Endy Rodriguez (elbow) will be "fully healthy" for the start of spring training in mid-February. Rodriguez was forced to miss all of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to fix the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow in December of 2023, although he did take part in a minor-league rehab assignment in September for Double-A Altoona. The 24-year-old backstop switch-hitting Dominican made his MLB debut in 2023 and slashed .220/.284/.328 with three homers and 13 RBI in 57 games for the Bucs in 57 games. Given all the time he missed last year while recovering from elbow surgery, it would not be a surprise at all to see Rodriguez start in the minors in 2025 while serving as catching depth for Joey Bart and Henry Davis at the big-league level.
Dec 10   
Hunter Stratton  • RP  •  Pirates

Hunter Stratton Returning To Pittsburgh On Minor-League Deal

According to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Pirates have signed relief pitcher Hunter Stratton to a minor-league contract. Stratton spent all of last summer in Steele City but underwent surgery in his left knee in August. Stratton was facing a seven-to-ten-month recovery window at the time of the operation. Through 37 2/3 innings of relief, Stratton held a 3.58 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He tallied one save while showing great command with a stellar 4.4% walk rate. He also generated a solid 3.29 xERA and a 31.3% hard-hit rate. He was typically deployed in the eighth inning as and tallied five holds. Fantasy managers should monitor his progression during Spring Training as he could face an uphill battle to be ready for Opening Day, given his tight recovery window.
Dec 9   
Bryan Reynolds  • LF  •  Pirates

Bryan Reynolds Expected To See Time At First Base

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds is expected to see time at first base in 2025. While this will likely only be in a part-time role, this is a situation worth monitoring as it could provide Reynolds even more at-bats throughout the season. Rosenthal also noted that given Pittsburgh's offensive struggles last season, they would "ideally" like to add a first baseman and another corner outfielder. Last season, the 29-year-old posted a strong .275/.344/.427 line with 24 home runs and ten stolen bases. Reynolds enjoyed an impressive stretch during June and July when he held a stellar .328/.389/.566 slash line. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor who the Pirates bring in during free agency but should expect Reynolds to continue to serve as a staple in the starting nine in 2025.
Dec 6   
Paul Skenes  • SP  •  Pirates

Paul Skenes Named 2024 NL Rookie Of The Year

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was named the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year on Monday evening. Skenes, last year's first overall pick out of LSU, debuted less than a year after being drafted and is a generational talent at the position. The 22-year-old went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts in 133 innings for the Pirates this year, and his 170 strikeouts were a franchise record. His ERA was the lowest for a rookie pitcher with at least 20 starts in the live-ball era (dating to 1920) and the lowest of any pitcher in 2024 with at least 130 innings. Skenes' fWAR was 10th among big-league pitchers, and he was also named one of the finalists for the NL Cy Young, joining lefty Chris Sale and right-hander Zack Wheeler. Skenes is already one of the most dominant pitchers in the sport and will be a highly-coveted fantasy ace in 2025.
Nov 19   
Trey Cabbage  • RF  •  Pirates

Pirates Claim Trey Cabbage Off Waivers

The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed outfielder Trey Cabbage off waivers, according to Ari Alexander of KPRC2. The 27-year-old appeared in only 47 games at the major league level in the Space City last season and held an underwhelming .209/.253/.337 slash line with just one home run and one stolen base. However, in Triple-A, he posted a solid .243/.351/.474 line with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect Cabbage to compete for the spot on the Opening Day Roster. However, he will face an uphill battle as he has not enjoyed consistent success in the big leagues.
Nov 6   
Termarr Johnson  • 2B  •  Pirates

Termarr Johnson Injured In Arizona Fall League

Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Termarr Johnson (foot) was injured while playing in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday night and had to be carried off the field while being unable to put any weight on his right foot. Johnson injured his foot swinging through a pitch. It's unclear exactly what the 20-year-old's injury is, but we should have an update on his status soon. Based on how the injury looked on the field, though, it wouldn't be a surprise if Johnson is shut down for the rest of the AFL season this fall. The former fourth overall pick in 2022 hit a combined .237/.367/.386 with a .753 OPS, 15 home runs, 54 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 124 games with High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona during the 2024 season. MLB Pipeline has him listed as Pittsburgh's No. 3 prospect. Depending on the severity of his injury, Johnson has a shot to make his MLB debut in 2025.
Oct 9   
Paul Skenes  • SP  •  Pirates

Paul Skenes Dominant To Finish Season

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher was dominant in his short outing on Saturday and didn't allow a single runner on in his two innings of working during the Pirates' 9-4 win over the New York Yankees. Skenes finishes with a 1.96 ERA on the season with an 11-3 record and a strong case to win the National League Rookie of the Year award. The 22-year-old dazzled all season long and had 22 starts allowing just two ER or fewer. Fantasy managers of all leagues have been thrilled with his performance and he should certainly be a target to hold onto in keeper leagues. In 2025 he may experience some negative regression as his 1.96 ERA is paired with a 2.56 xERA, but his xERA still ranks in the 96th percentile. Should his numbers stay any bit similar to his 2024 season, and if he finishes the 2025 season healthy, he will contend for and likely win the Cy Young award.
Sep 28   
Mike Burrows  • SP  •  Pirates

Mike Burrows Promoted To Major Leagues

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching prospect Mike Burrows is being promoted to the major league roster. In a corresponding move, the Pirates demoted right-hander Jared Jones to the Florida Complex League as he made his final start of the season on Friday evening. Burrows has spent the entire season at Triple-A Indianapolis and posted a 4.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, with a 15:45 BB:K ratio. The 24-year-old is not projected to start on Saturday or Sunday but could be deployed out of the bullpen over the weekend. Fantasy managers should expect Burrows to compete for a spot on the major league roster during spring training.
Sep 28   
Andrew McCutchen  • DH  •  Pirates

Andrew McCutchen Out On Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen is out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. With McCutchen out, Bryan Reynolds is serving as the DH and batting second, while Billy Cook makes the start in left field and is hitting in the nine-hole against Yankees right-hander Luis Gil. McCutchen could use a day off with the season about to wrap up, as he's gone hitless in his last 11 at-bats with four strikeouts in three games played. The five-time All-Star and former MVP is batting only .232 (104-for-448) in his 16th year in the league, but he has reached the 20-homer mark for the first time since 2021 and has provided 50 RBI in his 120 games played for the Bucs. Reynolds clubbed two homers at Yankee Stadium on Friday night and will be a popular DFS pick against Gil, even though he has never faced him in his career. Cook has gone 9-for-41 (.220) with two homers in his first 14 MLB games this year.
Sep 28   
Bryan Reynolds  • LF  •  Pirates

Bryan Reynolds Goes Deep Twice On Friday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs -- one from each side of the plate for the switch-hitter -- in Friday's 4-2 win over the Yankees. The 29-year-old collected three RBI in the contest, walked once, and scored twice as well. The home runs ended a long 21-game homerless stretch and gave him 24 on the year. With two games to go, the 2x All-Star will finish with strikingly similar results for the fourth consecutive season, logging a .276-24-88-72-10 line with a .344 wOBA and 118 wRC+, making him one of the game's more reliable multi-category producers.
Sep 28   
Oneil Cruz  • SS  •  Pirates

Oneil Cruz Sitting On Friday

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder/outfielder Oneil Cruz and third baseman Jared Triolo are both out of the lineup for Friday's series finale against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Billy Cook will get the start in center field and will bat in the nine-hole, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa manning third base and batting sixth against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon. Kiner-Falefa has one hit in three career at-bats versus Rodon. The 25-year-old Cruz will get a day of rest against a southpaw pitcher. The Dominican has hit just .227 (32-for-141) against lefties this year with six of his 21 home runs on the season. Cruz recently made the full-time transition from shortstop to center field in Pittsburgh and has also reached the 20-20 milestone for the first time in 2024 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Cruz enters play on Friday slashing .263/.325/.456 with a .781 OPS, 21 homers, 76 RBI and 22 thefts in 143 games.
Sep 27   
Joey Bart  • C  •  Pirates

Joey Bart Absent On Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-handed slugger will get a breather after starting in each of the last two games. In his absence, Yasmani Grandal will do the catching and bat seventh versus right-hander Freddy Peralta. Grandal is underachieving with the bat this season and isn't a viable fantasy option for Wednesday's slate. The expectation is Bart will be back in the lineup following Wednesday's game.
Sep 25   
Ke'Bryan Hayes  • 3B  •  Pirates

Ke'Bryan Hayes Likely Out For Season

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) is not expected to return during the final week of the season, according to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pirates assistant general manager Kevan Graves said that the window for Hayes to return is "too short." Hayes finishes the 2024 campaign with a disappointing .233/.283/.290 slash line and just four home runs and 11 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect Jared Triolo to see the majority of starts at the hot corner during the final week of the season. Triolo is getting the starting nod on Sunday afternoon and will bat in the seven-hole against Cincinnati right-hander Hunter Greene.
Sep 22   
Andrew McCutchen  • DH  •  Pirates

Andrew McCutchen Taking A Day Off

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen will get a day of rest on Saturday at Great American Ball Park against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. With McCutchen on the bench to start, Oneil Cruz will serve as the DH and bat third, while Billy Cook draws into the lineup in center field and will hit in the nine-hole against Reds rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder. Believe it or not, but McCutchen has returned to the 20-homer mark this year for the first time since 2021 at 37 years old. The former MVP is hitting .238 (102-for-429) through 115 games, though, and doesn't provide much else for fantasy managers these days. Cruz is a must-start in fantasy and just reached the 20-20 mark for the first time in his career by homering on Friday night. Cook will be playing in only his 10th MLB game on Saturday. He's gone 5-for-27 with a homer, double, five RBI and 12 K's through nine games.
Sep 21   
LEGEND
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