The Brandon Lowe trade “moved the needle” towards Ryan O’Hearn signing with the Pirates. His phone call with Don Kelly sealed it. On Thursday, the Pirates introduced their biggest free agent in years www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

The Pirates are avoiding arbitration with all eligible players this year www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Source confirms Oneil Cruz and Pirates have agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million deal to avoid arbitration. Robert Murray had it first

Source: Pirates and Justin Lawrence agree to a one-year, $1.225 million deal to avoid arbitration

Source: Pirates and Dennis Santana have agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract to avoid arbitration

The Pirates wanted to improve their lineup this winter and have added two All-Stars so far. Lowe and O’Hearn are good hitters, and they also fill some of the biggest holes the 2025 offense had. I dove into that for today’s Pirates Beat newsletter: www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

NEW POD 🚨🚨🚨 🏴‍☠️ The Alex Stumpf Show Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts 🙌 m.youtube.com/watch?v=fviy... podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Will the Pirates land Okamoto? @alexjstumpf.bsky.social breaks it down on today’s show 🏴‍☠️

“I don't understand how he ever gives up a hit.” New Pirate reliever Mason Montgomery averaged 98.7 mph on his fastball last season. In the pitch tracking era, the only lefty to best that in a season is Aroldis Chapman. More on the Pirates’ new southpaw: www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Ben Cherington talked earlier this week about how the Pirates wanted to add another proven bat to the lineup. On Tuesday, they added their second 2025 All-Star this week. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

ates and Ryan O’Hearn are in agreement on a two-year deal worth $29 million, per source. Robert Murray had it first

Caught up with new Pirate Jake Magnum, who was part of the Rays trade. What type of player are the Pirates getting? This quote should sum it up: “There’s two promises I can make: I’m going to work as hard as I can, and I’m going to play as hard as I can” www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Pirates have signed outfielder Dominic Fletcher to a minor league deal, per source. Fletcher, 28, played 12 games in the Majors with the White Sox last year and had a .770 OPS in Triple-A. The @buccobantr.bsky.social crew had it first

Brandon Lowe spoke to Pittsburgh media over Zoom Monday. Here’s what the Pirates’ new slugger had to say about the opportunity, where he’s going to play in the field and hitting baseballs into the Allegheny. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Pirates have designated Tsung-Che Cheng and Marco Luciano for assignment to open roster spots for today’s trade. Roster is full at 40 players

Pirates, Astros, Rays trade is pending medicals, per source. Infielder Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and LHP Mason Montgomery would come to Pittsburgh, Mike Burrows to Houston. @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social was on it

The Pirates released an updated roster today that listed Nick Gonzales wearing No. 3. In July, he said he planned to change his number in tribute to Dave Parker. “If you’re in the Hall of Fame, I shouldn’t be wearing your number.” From July: www.mlb.com/news/nick-go...

The Pirates have announced their 2026 coaching staff. Additions we didn’t know about yet: Thomas Whitsett is the assistant pitching coach, Shawn Bowman the Major League field coordinator and Chris Truby as infield coach.

New Pirates Beat newsletter is waiting in your inbox, all on what I heard at the Winter Meetings and how the Pirates could proceed the rest of the offseason.

An All-Buccos I covered grid

Until next time

Pirates are trading RHP Carter Baumler, the player they took in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft, to the Rangers for RHP Jaiker Garcia and cash considerations. Converted infielder pitched 18 games in rookie ball this year

The Pirates select RHP Carter Baumier in the Rule 5 Draft. Former Orioles prospect

Honestly my favorite part of the Winter Meetings

Good morning from Orlando. The Pirates bullpen has a new two-time All-Star www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

"I, quite frankly, cannot wait for the fans to see us playing in October. That’s why I came here.” Got to chat with new Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy about the opportunity, learning how to communicate with players and why he believes in his new team. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Source confirms Pirates are signing LHP Gregory Soto. One year, $7.75 million. Pending physical. Jorge Castillo had it first

The Pirates will select fifth overall in the 2026 Draft. Third time they will have a lottery pick in the four years under the e new system

The Pirates’ offer for Schwarber had a slightly higher AAV than what he signed for with the Phillies, according to a source. They were also on hold a bit waiting to see if he would accept. What I’m hearing about what areas they’re targeting now. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Updated with the Pirates’ offer

On the night he won the Cy Young, Paul Skenes talked about how much it would mean to win in Pittsburgh. Don Kelly, a Pittsburgh kid, talked yesterday about what it would mean to win in here. And that is a big part of Ben Cherington’s pitch to free agents. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

The Pirates have made an offer to the best hitter on the free agent market. That’s a big swing after a couple of quiet winters. I asked Don Kelly and Ben Cherington about the Pirates being connected to some of the offseason’s mega targets here in Orlando. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

You cannot tell the story of baseball without Barry Bonds. Disappointed, but not surprised with today’s results

Jeff Kent has been elected to Cooperstown via the Contemporary Era Committee. Barry Bonds falls short again.

Hello from Orlando. The Winter Meetings are about to get underway, and I’ll have you covered for happenings with the Pirates. A couple links for yinz: Primers for the meetings: www.mlb.com/pirates/news... Fits for their biggest needs: www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Orioles have claimed OF Will Robertson off waivers from the Pirates, according to a source. Robertson, 27, made his MLB debut for Blue Jays in 2025, was their 4th-round Draft pick in ‘19. Also played for White Sox this year. Had been claimed off waivers by Pirates on Oct. 13.

The Pirates picked up another recent top 100 prospect Friday, albeit through waivers rather than a trade www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Pirates have claimed infielder Marco Luciano off waivers. Luciano, 24, was a former top prospect with the Giants and signed for a $2.6 million bonus as an international free agent in 2018. Did not appear in the Majors this year but hit 23 home runs w/ a .749 OPS in AAA.

The Pirates made their first big move of the winter, and it won’t be the last. It might not even be the last for the outfield. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

I don’t want to say that’s the worst 30 minutes of football the Steelers have played under Tomlin. But I sure am thinking it loudly.

The Pirates have non-tendered the four players they designated for assignment earlier this week: Dauri Moreta, Colin Holderman, Ronny Simon and Alexander Canario

When Brandan Bidois was a kid, fellow Aussie Grant Balfour wrote him a note wishing him luck with his baseball career. The Pirates added the reliever to the roster this week, putting him on the precipice of joining a small fraternity of MLB Australians. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Deal is for one-year, $825,000, per source

The Pirates have agreed to a contract with RHP Yohan Ramirez to avoid arbitration

Suwinski is out of Minor League options, so this is effectively a prove it deal. If it pans out, he still has three years of team control. If he doesn’t make the team, he’s cut and making only a little more than the minimum. The only real risk is spending a roster spot on him now

Source confirms the Pirates and Jack Suwinski have agreed to a one year, $1.25 million deal to avoid arbitration. Robert Murray had it first. Suwinski was speculated to be a non-tender candidate. Instead, he will get a guaranteed deal to try to earn a spot on the 2026 team.

Notes and news on the six prospects the Pirates added to the roster today www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

Sources: the Pirates are selecting the contracts of OF/1B Esmerlyn Valdez, INF Jack Brannigan, LHP Tyler Samaniego, and RHPs Wilber Dotel, Antoine Kelly and Brandan Bidois. A big class of players being protected from the Rule 5 Draft. Four roster spots will need to be opened.

The expectation is the Pirates are going to release infielder Cam Devanney so he can pursue an opportunity overseas, per source. That would put the Pirates’ roster at 38 players. They have until Tuesday to protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...

The Pirates have hired Kristopher Negrón as their bench coach and Tony Beasley as third-base coach. The big holes have been filled (pitching coach, bench coach, third base), but expect a few more additions to Don Kelly’s staff. www.mlb.com/pirates/news...