Blogs

MILWAUKEE — For the first time in 23 games, Pedro Alvarez is not in the starting lineup. Andy LaRoche will start at third base tonight against the Brewers. “It’s not so much Pedro needs a rest,” manager John Russell said. “It’s more about getting Andy in there for a game.” LaRoche last started a game [...]

The Pirates have finalized their deal with Columbian shortstop Dilson Herrera, and are expected to announce the signing today.

After tonight’s 4-3 victory against the Cardinals, the Pirates announced a pitching change for Wednesday’s game.

The good news on right-hander Ross Ohlendorf is he will not need surgery to repair his sore upper back. The bad news is, he’s likely done for the season.

The MRI on right-hander Ross Ohlendorf today showed a strain to the latissimus dorsi/teres major muscles (in other words, the back of his shoulder). According to the Pirates, surgery is not necessary. There was no immediate word on how long Ohlendorf will be out of action. Ohlendorf took himself out of last night’s game after [...]

The Pirates put Jeff Clement on the disabled list today, hoping the time off will help his irritated left knee.

The press box is more crowded than usual today. The Mets always bring a good-sized crew of beat writers and such. But there also is a movie crew setting up in the tippy-top of PNC Park and other spots throughout the stadium to film scenes for the Taylor Lautner flick “Abduction.” I’m not a “Twilight” [...]

The Pirates have finalized a two-year contract extension with short-season Class A State College. Team prez Frank Coonelly and GM Neal Huntington will be at Medlar Field to make the announcement before tonight’s 7:05 p.m. first pitch. »»» The Pirates’ farm system has a combined ..531 winning percentage, which is tied for seventh-best in the [...]

The Pirates have paid $2.6 million to buy the rights to 16-year-old pitcher Luis Heredia from Veracruz of the Mexican League. That shatters the franchise’s international signing bonus record of $400,000, which went to Venezuelan outfielder Exicardo Cayones in 2008. Baseball America ranked Heredia, a right-hander, the top international pitching prospect for 2010. “Luis has [...]

First-round pick Jameson Taillon met with reporters this afternoon at PNC Park and said he was happy the post-draft contract negotiations — he smiled and called it “an interesting process” — are over. “There was never a doubt in my mind,” Taillon said. “I knew we’d get something done.”