 The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly open to trading right-hander Mitch Keller, while Jared Jones is considered "very available," according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. This news follows the Pirates' recent trade, which sent three players, including righty Luis Ortiz, to acquire left-handed hitter Spencer Horwitz. The Pirates appear willing to continue trading pitching for offensive talent, and Keller and Jones could bring significant returns.
Mitch Keller, 28, is under contract for $69.5 million from 2025-28. In the 2024 season, he pitched 178 innings with an ERA that was close to the league average. Meanwhile, Jared Jones, 23, had an impressive rookie season, striking out 132 batters over 121 ⅔ innings. Although he missed some time due to injury, Jones still has five seasons of team control remaining, making him an attractive option for teams looking for young pitching talent. One thing is clear: Pittsburgh will not trade Paul Skenes. Beyond Skenes, however, it seems everyone else is potentially available for the right price. The Pirates' willingness to trade key pitchers signals their strategy to strengthen their offensive lineup and build a more balanced team for the future.
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 The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced the acquisition of first baseman and second baseman Spencer Horwitz from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for right-hander Luis Ortiz and left-handed pitching prospects Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy. This move comes shortly after the Guardians acquired Horwitz from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the day as part of the Andrés Giménez deal.
Horwitz, 27, is expected to compete for Pittsburgh's starting first base position. With Cleveland already having Josh Naylor and Kyle Manzardo, there was limited opportunity for Horwitz to play regularly. However, Pittsburgh offers a clearer path to playing time, especially after the release of Rowdy Tellez, who struggled as the team's primary first baseman in the 2024 season. The left-handed hitting Horwitz has demonstrated considerable offensive potential both in Triple-A and the major leagues. This year, he posted an impressive .265/.357/.433 batting line over 381 plate appearances, hitting 12 home runs and 19 doubles. Horwitz also showcased excellent plate discipline, walking at an 11% rate while striking out 18.4% of the time.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed reliever Elvis Alvarado to a major league split contract, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This contract grants Alvarado a coveted 40-man roster spot, marking a significant milestone in his career as a minor league free agent.
Alvarado, a 6’4″ right-handed pitcher, has had a journey through various minor league systems, including those of the Nationals, Mariners, Tigers, and Marlins. During the 2024 season, he spent most of his time in Triple-A with Miami, where he put up impressive numbers. Alvarado posted a 2.79 ERA over 48 1/3 innings, striking out an impressive one-third of the batters he faced. However, his control remains an area for improvement, as evidenced by his 18% walk rate. Despite his command issues, Alvarado's ability to miss bats and limit runs makes him an intriguing addition to the Pirates' bullpen. Securing a 40-man roster spot for the first time in his career, Alvarado now has the opportunity to prove himself at the major league level. Pirates fans will be eager to see if his strikeout prowess can translate to success in the big leagues and provide a valuable boost to the team's relief corps.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have bolstered their pitching depth by signing right-handers Tanner Rainey and Hunter Stratton to minor league contracts. The news was respectively reported by Aram Leighton of Just Baseball and Stratton’s MLB.com profile page. Rainey’s deal includes an invitation to the Pirates’ big league spring training camp, and it is likely that Stratton’s contract also comes with a similar invite, although his participation may be limited due to recent knee surgery.
Tanner Rainey Joins Pirates Tanner Rainey heads to Pittsburgh after a tumultuous six-year stint with the Washington Nationals, which was highlighted by a World Series victory in his first year with the team. Rainey contributed to that 2019 championship run with a 3.91 ERA and a striking 34.6% strikeout rate over 48 1/3 relief innings, despite a concerning 17.8% walk rate. Control issues have been a recurring problem for Rainey throughout his time in Washington, and his career was further disrupted by Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss most of the 2023 season. In 2024, Rainey posted a 4.76 ERA, a 19% strikeout rate, and a 12.6% walk rate over 51 innings, leading the Nationals to non-tender him, despite a projected $1.9 million arbitration salary. Now at 32, Rainey will look to revive his career with the Pirates. He aims to regain the form and velocity that made him a valuable bullpen asset for the Nationals in 2020 and 2022. Hunter Stratton's Return to the Pirates Hunter Stratton was also non-tendered by the Pirates in November, but the expectation was that Pittsburgh would bring him back on a new minor league deal, just as they did last offseason. Stratton boasts a solid 3.26 ERA and an impressive 4.9% walk rate across 49 2/3 career Major League innings, all with the Pirates over the past two seasons. While Stratton does not have high strikeout numbers, his ability to induce soft contact makes him an intriguing option for the Pirates’ bullpen. His return provides the team with additional depth and a reliable relief option as they prepare for the upcoming season. These signings reflect the Pirates' strategy to strengthen their pitching staff with experienced arms and provide depth heading into spring training. Fans will be watching closely to see how Rainey and Stratton perform and if they can make an impact on the Pirates’ roster.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have bolstered their pitching roster by signing right-hander Isaac Mattson to a minor league deal, as confirmed by MLB.com's transaction tracker and Mattson's own announcement on Instagram. Mattson, who has been assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis, is expected to receive an invitation to big league spring training.
Mattson, 29, also signed a minor league contract with the Pirates for the 2024 season. He was called up in September, pitching 5 1/3 innings over three appearances and allowing three earned runs. His brief major league experience includes four games with the Orioles in 2021, resulting in a 5.59 ERA over seven games. He was outrighted off the roster at the start of the offseason. While this limited major league sample size doesn't provide much to draw conclusions from, the Pirates observed Mattson closely during the 2024 season in Triple-A. Over 60 innings in 29 appearances, he posted a 3.15 ERA, with a 29.8% strikeout rate and a high 12.9% walk rate. His performance in the upper minors has generally been consistent, with a 4.10 ERA, 27.9% strikeout rate, and 14.5% walk rate over 138 1/3 innings in the past four years. With this signing, the Pirates aim to strengthen their bullpen depth, hoping that Mattson can translate his minor league success to the major leagues in the upcoming season. As spring training approaches, all eyes will be on Mattson to see if he can secure a spot on the big league roster and make a significant impact.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have brought back a familiar face to bolster their coaching staff, hiring Matt Hague as their new hitting coach. Hague returns to the team that drafted him in 2008, stepping into a role vacated by Andy Haines, who was dismissed following a disappointing offensive season for the Pirates.
Hague, 39, spent the previous season serving as an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. His appointment comes in the wake of Pittsburgh's struggles at the plate, where the team ranked in the bottom 10 across major statistical categories, including runs scored (24th) and home runs (25th). The Pirates also set a club record with 1,504 strikeouts, the second-highest total in the National League, trailing only Colorado. Drafted by the Pirates in the ninth round in 2008, Hague made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh in 2012. Despite limited playing opportunities with the Pirates and later the Toronto Blue Jays, he posted a .226 batting average with seven RBIs in 84 career at-bats. After a brief stint in Japan in 2016 and minor league assignments with three different organizations in 2017 and 2018, Hague transitioned into coaching. The Pirates ended the last season with a 76-86 record for the second consecutive year. Their offensive woes were a significant factor, overshadowing strong performances from their pitching staff, including National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and fellow rookie Jared Jones. As the offseason unfolds, the Pirates will likely focus on strengthening their lineup, which is currently anchored by veteran left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Hague's return to Pittsburgh brings hope for a more productive offensive strategy and better results in the upcoming season. The team and its fans are optimistic that his experience and fresh perspective will lead to improvements at the plate.  Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes and New York Yankees' Luis Gil have been named the 2024 National League and American League Rookies of the Year, respectively.
Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, had a historic rookie season, dominating hitters with his electric fastball and devastating breaking pitches. He finished the year with an impressive 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA. His 170 strikeouts set a franchise rookie record. In the American League, Gil's breakout season earned him the Rookie of the Year award. After missing most of the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery, Gil returned stronger than ever, posting a 3.50 ERA and striking out 26.8% of batters faced. Both players have bright futures ahead of them and are poised to become key contributors to their respective teams for years to come.  The Pittsburgh Pirates made an exciting announcement on Friday, revealing a unique and enticing offer for fans and collectors alike. The team is offering a remarkable package of perks, including 30 years' worth of season tickets at PNC Park, in exchange for a rare and highly coveted 1-of-1 Paul Skenes rookie card.
The Coveted Rookie Card The card in question is part of the recently released 2024 Topps Chrome Update set. What makes this card truly special is that it is a one-of-a-kind (1-of-1) collectible, featuring not only Paul Skenes' autograph but also the MLB debut patch he wore during his first regular-season game. Such exclusivity and personal touch make this card a highly sought-after item among collectors. The Pirates' Generous Offer The Pirates are going all out to secure this unique piece of memorabilia. They have outlined an impressive package of perks for the individual who pulls the card and is willing to part with it in favor of the organization. The package includes:
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity This offer underscores the Pirates' commitment to their fans and the value they place on unique collectibles. For the lucky individual who finds this 1-of-1 Paul Skenes rookie card, the decision to exchange it for such an extraordinary package of experiences and access to Pirates baseball could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Pirates' announcement has generated buzz among collectors and baseball fans, adding an extra layer of excitement to the hobby. It will be interesting to see who ends up pulling the card and whether they decide to take the Pirates up on their generous offer. Via a tweet from Jeff Passan, the Pirates are extending P Mitch Keller 5 years.
Keller is in his 6th year in the MLB and is 26-38 with a 4.71 ERA. The reported contract numbers are 5 years, $77 Million in total dollars. He is sure to be a big piece of the Pirates rebuild and hopefully move towards the postseason in the coming years. |