After being traded twice in a day, new Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz is eager to settle in

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Spencer Horwitz was settling in to watch “Gladiator II” with his girlfriend last week when his phone buzzed. By the time the movie — with a running time of 2 hours, 28 minutes — was over, the first baseman had been traded. Twice. ...

Infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez acquired by Pirates from Red Sox for right-hander Joe Vogatsky

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday for minor league right-hander Joe Vogatsky. Valdez hit .214 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 65 games last season during four stints with the Red Sox. He...

Pirates hire Miguel Perez as club's bullpen coach following long tenure in the minors

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates hired Miguel Perez the club's bullpen coach on Friday. Perez has spent parts of two decades in the Pirates' organization, including the last three as the manager of the team's Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. The...

Guardians trade Gold Glove 2B Andrés Giménez to Blue Jays, get RHP Luis Ortiz in deal with Pirates

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians broke up their infield and plugged a hole in their rotation. The AL Central champions pulled off two significant trades at the winter meetings in Dallas on Tuesday night, first sending three-time Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez to...

Discussion with Mets about converting Clay Holmes into a starter began at GM meetings last month

DALLAS (AP) — The Mets were in the midst of the general managers meetings in San Antonio last month when Clay Holmes' agent brought up the idea of converting the two-time All-Star closer back into a starting pitcher for the first time since his rookie season. “The arsenal should...

Clay Holmes and Mets finalize $38M, 3-year contract, with plans to convert him into a starter

DALLAS (AP) — Clay Holmes and the New York Mets finalized a $38 million, three-year contract on Monday, with plans to convert the All-Star reliever into a starting pitcher. Holmes gets a $13 million salary in each of the first two seasons of the deal. He has a $12 million player...

Brent Strom hired as Pittsburgh Pirates assistant pitching coach

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brent Strom didn't want his lengthy coaching career to end on a sour note after Arizona dismissed the longtime pitching guru in October. A chance to write a happier ending awaits in Pittsburgh. The Pirates hired Strom as assistant pitching coach on...

Pirates tab Matt Hague as their next hitting coach hoping to unlock anemic offense

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Matt Hague as their hitting coach, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2008. Hague replaces Andy Haines, who was fired after Pittsburgh finished in the bottom 10 in the majors in every significant statistical...

Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Yankees pitcher Luis Gil win Rookie of the Year awards

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates was the heralded fireballer who equaled the hype, to the point he started the All-Star Game just two months after making his big league debut. Luis Gil was an afterthought for the New York Yankees, earning a spot in their rotation only when ace...

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates has been selected as the National League Rookie of the Year