Blogs

LAS VEGAS — Although the Winter Meetings have been exceptionally slow in terms of player moves, the Pirates may make a ripple before things wrap up tomorrow morning. “There’s a chance something small could happen while we’re here,” GM Neal Huntington said about a half-hour ago. “Nothing headline-grabbing, but I think there’s a chance (of [...]

The Pirates are making efforts to lock up three key players through at least the 2012 season. This afternoon, several sources confirmed that multi-year contracts had been offered to center fielder Nate McLouth, catcher Ryan Doumit and left-hander Paul Maholm. All three players are in their first year of arbitration eligibility. Paul Cobbe, Doumit’s agent, [...]

LAS VEGAS — The phones in GM Neal Huntington’s suite must be especially busy this morning, as there are at least two teams who might be interested in trading for closer Matt Capps — though it appears no firm offers have been made — and another team could be focused on catcher Ronny Paulino. The [...]

LAS VEGAS — Here are two possible destinations for Pirates fans’ favorite punching bag, catcher Ronny Paulino: Boston and Baltimore. The Red Sox are planning ahead in case they are unable to re-sign free agent Jason Varitek. Boston has made a price-check on what it might take to get Paulino in a trade. Orioles GM [...]

LAS VEGAS — The Reds and Orioles just announced a trade, with Ryan Freel going to Baltimore and catcher Ramon Hernandez going to Cincinnati. Orioles GM Andy MacPhail said the deal “was all about Matt Weiters,” who likely will become the everyday catcher for the O’s in 2009. That oughta make Pirates fans cringe every [...]

LAS VEGAS — GM Neal Huntington aptly described his offseason duties as “putting together a jigsaw puzzle”: Trade away a player for some prospects, add a free agent here or there, promote a minor leaguer … and hope that it all fits together nicely by Opening Day. It’s what makes the winter meetings so maddening [...]

LAS VEGAS — The Pirates continue trolling for a veteran infielder, and today begun discussions with former World Series MVP David Eckstein. “It’s in the preliminary stages,” Eckstein’s agent, Ryan Gleichowski, said. “There’s mutual interest.” Late last night, the Pirates lost out on Mark Loretta, who signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. [...]

LAS VEGAS — Broadcaster Tony Kubek won the Ford Frick Award and will be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Kubek spent 30 years as an analyst for the NBC Game of the Week, the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees. Kubek is the first TV analyst to receive the Frick Award. This [...]

LAS VEGAS — Because of the World Baseball Classic, spring training will be a week longer in 2009. The Pirates today released their 35-game Grapefruit League schedule, which includes 19 home games (three more than last year). The Pirates’ first game is Feb. 25 against the Phillies at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla. The Pirates [...]

LAS VEGAS — The prawns were no problem, but I was stuggling a bit with the mussels. I finally had one perched delicately in my chopsticks when … my cell phone sang out. I reached for the phone and, plop, the mussel slipped back onto my plate. Rats. The caller during my late-night dinner tonight [...]