Blogs

Anthony Claggett and Steven Jackson today cleared waivers and were sent outright to Triple-A Indianapolis. The pitchers will be among 22 non-roster invitees in spring training. Claggett and Jackson had been designated for assignment recently to clear spots on the 40-man roster.

Pirates Charities will help build the first Miracle Field in the Wheeling, W.Va., area. The formal announcement will come Wednesday morning, during the Pirates Caravan’s stop in Wheeling. The field will enable children with special needs to play baseball in a league-based environment. In 2008, Pirates Charities donated $200,000 toward construction of a Miracle Field [...]

I spent a lot of time this week talking to people in and around the industry about steroids, which for a baseball beat writer is never a pleasant topic. I was curious about the notion of attaching an “asterisk” or some sort of disclaimer to the statistics of admitted/proven PED users. Commissioner Bud Selig declined [...]

The Pirates today signed free agent Octavio Dotel to a one-year contract with a club option for 2011. Financial terms were not immediately available. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander Anthony Claggett was designated for assignment. Dotel, 36, will fill the closer vacancy and anchor a bullpen which is being rebuilt almost [...]

Single-game tickets for the 2010 season will go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at PNC Park and at PirateFest, online and by phone.

The Pirates could still work out a trade involving Steven Jackson, perhaps even a 2-for-1 swap involving, say, newly acquired outfielder Brendan Jones. It’s also possible the Pirates will lose Jackson on waivers.

The Pirates today traded Brian Bixler to Cleveland, which cleared a 40-man roster spot for free-agent reliever Brendan Donnelly. Bixler was swapped for minor league infielder Jesus Brito, 22, who played in Class A last season. Brito hit a combined .353 with 19 doubles, 10 triples and 43 RBI in 60 games in rookie ball [...]

Charges of family abuse and property against Pirates relief pitcher Tyler Yates in Hawaii have been dropped.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Minutes ago, the Pirates officially announced the signing of outfielder Ryan Church to a one-year contract. “Ryan Church is an established, well-rounded major league player who brings an experienced left-handed bat and quality outfield defense to the organization,” GM Huntington said in a statement. “He has the skills and tools to be [...]

Sitting at the gate at Greater Pit, waiting for my flight to Florida to do a quick check on minicamp, when I saw the Pirates have signed three more players — right-hander Brian Bass, catcher Luke Carlin and outfielder Brian Myrow — to minor-league contracts. That gives the team 19 non-roster invitees to spring training. [...]