<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-rangers-pirates-pitchers-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rangers, Pirates swap pitchers in offseason trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Chris-Young-in-2023.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Rangers, Pirates swap pitchers in offseason trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T07:30:57-08:00">December 11th, 7:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T07:34:08-08:00">December 11th, 7:34am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates <a href="https://x.com/MistrettaMLB/status/1999133774190108863" rel="noopener">agreed to</a> a trade on Wednesday. Texas acquired right-handed pitcher Carter Baumler in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jaiker Garcia and cash considerations. Baumler’s trade comes after getting selected by the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.</p><p>Baumler was selected by the Orioles in the 2020 MLB Draft. He has spent his minor league career in Baltimore’s system. While he has yet to make his big league debut, the right-handed hurler has displayed promise in the minor leagues. Between pitching at three minor league levels in 2025, Baumler turned in a stellar 2.04 ERA across 28 total appearances out of the bullpen.</p><p>In previous seasons, he had both started and pitched in relief. It seems as if there was an effort to convert him to a full-time reliever in 2025. Perhaps he will impact the Rangers’ bullpen in 2026.</p><p>Garcia landed a minor league contract with the Rangers in 2022. He also has not pitched in MLB, spending the last few years in the Rangers’ organization. His numbers don’t jump off the page — he pitched to a 4.66 ERA across 18 appearances in 2025 — but a fresh start could help him turn things around.</p><p>The Rangers and Pirates have both been busy this offseason. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/texas-rangers/rangers-news-brandon-nimmo-explains-why-texas-can-win-world-series">Texas acquired Brandon Nimmo in a trade</a> for Marcus Semien. While Pittsburgh is still waiting to make a big splash, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-120-million-kyle-schwarber-offer-wont-be-enough">Pirates did reportedly have interest in signing Kyle Schwarber</a> before he agreed to return to the Philadelphia Phillies.</p><p>The Rangers are hoping to bounce back following an up and down 2025 campaign, while the Pirates are looking to build a contending ball club within the next couple of seasons.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rangers, Pirates swap pitchers in offseason trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-perfect-trade-offer-for-diamondbacks-ketel-marte');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates’ perfect trade offer for Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pirates-perfect-trade-offer-for-Diamondbacks-Ketel-Marte.jpg"></figure><h1>Pirates’ perfect trade offer for Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T05:21:24-08:00">December 11th, 5:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T05:21:24-08:00">December 11th, 5:21am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Pittsburgh Pirates have an opportunity to address one of their most glaring weaknesses at the winter meetings by pursuing Arizona’s elite second baseman, Ketel Marte. With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/diamondbacks-rumors-what-arizona-is-looking-for-ketel-marte-trade">Diamondbacks signaling their willingness to engage in trade discussions</a>, the Pirates can construct a compelling offer that balances both franchises’ needs without being lopsided. Pittsburgh’s surplus of young pitching talent and promising prospects creates the ideal foundation for a deal that could transform their offense and provide Arizona the starting pitching reinforcement they desperately need heading into 2026.</p><h2>The Pitching Package Pittsburgh Can Offer for Ketel Marte</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Ketel-Marte-with-AZ-Diamondbacks.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Pirates’ strength lies in their exceptional rotation depth and promising young arms. Mitch Keller represents the centerpiece of any Marte trade proposal—his three years and $56 million remaining on his contract align with Arizona’s salary structure, and his 4.15 ERA since 2022 provides stability for a Diamondbacks rotation in flux. Keller’s durability matters significantly, having made 124 starts over the last four seasons and ranking among the league’s most reliable innings-eaters. Beyond Keller, the Pirates can sweeten the offer with a high-ceiling prospect like Hunter Barco, the 6-foot-4 left-hander who has impressed scouts with his development trajectory. Barco’s advanced changeup and improving fastball give Arizona a long-term pitching prospect to develop in their system, addressing their organizational depth concerns.</p><p>To further balance the proposal, Pittsburgh can include Braxton Ashcraft, the promising young relief prospect who posted a 2.71 ERA over 69.2 innings in 2025 as a rookie. Ashcraft’s effectiveness out of the bullpen and potential to transition into a more prominent role makes him a valuable addition. These three arms—Keller, Barco, and Ashcraft—create a substantial package that addresses Arizona’s stated emphasis on starting pitching while providing bullpen security.</p><p>While the Pirates would be surrendering significant pitching depth, they need complementary pieces to make this trade equitable. The Diamondbacks could include a mid-tier prospect from their system to balance the baseball trade value. Additionally, Arizona could take back one of Pittsburgh’s expendable international prospects or a low-ceiling minor league arm to help offset the number of players exchanged. This prevents the deal from becoming too one-sided while still allowing both teams to address their core needs.</p><p>The inclusion of a salary-neutral structure is critical. Marte’s $91 million contract through 2030 with a $11.5 million option is reasonable for a player of his caliber, but moving Keller’s $56 million responsibility creates financial flexibility for Pittsburgh to invest in other areas. This arrangement allows the Pirates to maintain payroll stability while improving their middle infield without mortgaging their entire future.</p><p><b>Pirates’ Perfect Trade Offer for Ketel Marte:</b></p><p><b>Pirates Receive:</b></p><ul><li>2B Ketel Marte</li></ul><p><b>Diamondbacks Receive:</b></p><ul><li>RHP Mitch Keller</li><li>LHP Hunter Barco</li><li>RHP Braxton Ashcraft</li></ul><h2>Why This Deal Makes Sense for Both Franchises</h2><p>Pittsburgh gains an immediate superstar in Marte, transforming their second base production from one of the league’s worst to elite overnight. His .283 batting average, .893 OPS, and 28 home runs in 2025 fit perfectly into a lineup desperate for offensive production. The Pirates ranked last in runs scored and home runs last season, and Marte represents a controllable, long-term solution at a premium position. His five-year contract structure through 2030 provides continuity and removes draft pick compensation, keeping Pittsburgh’s future intact.</p><p>For Arizona, the return addresses their most critical need—starting pitching depth. The Diamondbacks received the Marte contract for its value, and moving him now maximizes his trade return before his salary escalates and potential defensive decline diminishes his market. Keller provides a proven, durable starter who can anchor their rotation while Barco and Ashcraft represent upside in their development system. The trade allows Arizona to retool around their younger prospects like Jordan Lawler while addressing pitching concerns that have plagued their playoff aspirations.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates’ perfect trade offer for Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-pirates-rays-trade-kyle-schwarber-miss');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: The Rays trade Pirates are trying to make after missing on Kyle Schwarber');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Rays-2B-Brandon-Lowe-vs-Blue-Jays.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: The Rays trade Pirates are trying to make after missing on Kyle Schwarber</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-10T06:53:05-08:00">December 10th, 6:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-10T06:53:05-08:00">December 10th, 6:53am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Pittsburgh Pirates stayed aggressive at the Winter Meetings after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-agrees-150-million-reunion">Kyle Schwarber’s blockbuster reunion with the Philadelphia Phillies</a> became one of the week’s defining moments. With that pursuit gone, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-more-moves-jhostynxon-garcia-trade">the Pirates didn’t slow down</a>. Their posture had already shifted earlier in the offseason when they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-acquires-pitcher-in-5-player-trade-with-pirates">traded Johan Oviedo for top-100 outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia</a>, a move that signaled a broader plan to retool with both upside and immediacy. Now, under the lights of the Meetings, that urgency has turned toward major-league help. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi <a href="https://x.com/jonmorosi/status/1998743915290120210" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/mlb-rumors-brandon-lowe-ideal-fit-pirates-trade">Pirates reached out to the Tampa Bay Rays about Brandon Lowe</a>, showing a clear push to add left-handed power before the market shifts again. It felt decisive. It felt calculated. And it underscored that missing on Schwarber didn’t soften their ambition: it intensified it.</p><p>Brandon Lowe brings the exact profile Pittsburgh wants. For starters, he’s a two-time All-Star for Tampa Bay, earning selections in 2019 and 2025. Last season, he posted a .256/.307/.477 slash line with 31 home runs and 83 RBI, proving his bat still carries game-shifting weight when healthy. In addition, his power, patience, and postseason-tested presence offer the kind of balance the Pirates have been missing. Together, all of it fits the middle of a lineup craving a stabilizing force.</p><h2>A Rays pivot with real stakes for the Pirates</h2><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/tampa-bay-rays/rays-rumors-destitute-payroll-could-lead-2-time-all-star-trade">Rays remain in control of any talks</a>. They operate patiently. They evaluate every angle. Even so, Morosi’s report confirms that Lowe’s name is circulating, and Tampa Bay is at least listening. With that, his production and contract give them leverage. And the Pirates know that window won’t stay open for long.</p><p>Meanwhile, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-120-million-kyle-schwarber-offer-wont-be-enough">Pirates offseason already made noise with their Kyle Schwarber pursuit</a> and their Garcia acquisition. Now, they’re aiming for impact again. Brandon Lowe checks their boxes for power, experience, and lineup presence. He fits their timeline. He fits their need.</p><p>So the question lingers: If the Pirates keep pressing, and the Rays keep listening, could this become the bold Winter Meetings swing that defines Pittsburgh’s offseason?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: The Rays trade Pirates are trying to make after missing on Kyle Schwarber

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-pittsburgh-drowns-kyle-schwarber-sorrows-with-one-year-reliever-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates drown Kyle Schwarber sorrows with one-year reliever deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/New-Pirates-pitcher-Gregory-Soto-pitches.jpg"><figcaption>© Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates drown Kyle Schwarber sorrows with one-year reliever deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T19:00:06-08:00">December 9th, 7:00pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T19:00:06-08:00">December 9th, 7:00pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Pittsburgh Pirates are not known for being a major player in free agency. In fact, they are known for being a notorious cheapskate — a franchise that looks to save every penny they could. But <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-120-million-kyle-schwarber-offer-wont-be-enough">they expressed interest in Kyle Schwarber</a> and even gave him a huge offer that reports say reached $125 million over four years — beating out the deal Schwarber signed with the Philadelphia Phillies (five-year, $150 million) on an average annual value basis.</p><p>Alas, as the rumor mill had correct all along, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/kyle-schwarber-phillies-contract-grades-150-million-deal">Schwarber was very much intent on returning to the Phillies</a>, and nothing was going to stop that from happening other than a horrible offer from Philly. This then left the Pirates scrambling to find ways to improve the roster, but they did at least add a quality player to the mix in the aftermath of losing out on the biggest power bat on the market.</p><p>The Pirates, as per Jorge Castillo of ESPN, <a href="https://x.com/jorgecastillo/status/1998572736889938068" rel="noopener">have signed</a> left-handed relief pitcher Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million deal. This signing helps reinforce a Pirates bullpen that ranked 13th last season in ERA even further.</p><p>The Pirates’ relief corps allowed a cumulative 3.83 ERA, which is a solid mark. But if they were to take the next step in their progression as a team, they will need more, and Soto, the former All-Star, gives them more options late in games — especially when he’s a southpaw pitcher.</p><h2><b>Gregory Soto looking for bounce-back season with Pirates</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gregory-Soto.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Soto’s peripherals were solid in 2025, as he put up a 3.42 FIP across 60.1 innings of work (70 appearances) across his stints with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets.</p><p>At 30 years of age, one would think that Soto would have a lot more gas left in the tank. The key for him in a Pirates uniform would be to reduce the baserunners he’s allowing and for him to keep his walk rate down.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates drown Kyle Schwarber sorrows with one-year reliever deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-new-pitching-coach-lofty-goal-2026-beyond');   ga('set', 'title', 'New pitching coach sets lofty goal for Pirates in 2026 and beyond');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pirates-Henry-Davis-and-Bubba-Chandler.jpg"><figcaption>© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>New pitching coach sets lofty goal for Pirates in 2026 and beyond</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T14:45:02-08:00">December 9th, 2:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T14:45:43-08:00">December 9th, 2:45pm</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-orioles-matched-kyle-schwarber-offer-reds-pirates-just-behind">Pittsburgh Pirates are working hard this offseason to improve the club’s roster</a>. Pittsburgh missed the Major League Baseball playoffs once again in 2025, and has a new pitching coach to help the team return to the postseason in 2026.</p><p>New pitching coach Bill Murphy says reaching the postseason<a href="https://x.com/JMackeyPG/status/1998495229620768882" rel="noopener"> is absolutely the goal</a> for his staff. Murphy’s group of hurlers includes National League Cy Young award-winner Paul Skenes.</p><p>“I quite frankly cannot wait for the fans to see us playing in October. That’s why I came here,” Murphy said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.</p><p>Pirates fans would love for that to happen. Pittsburgh hasn’t made the MLB Playoffs since the 2015 season. The club finished dead last in the National League Central in 2025, with a 71-91 record.</p><p>Pitching hasn’t been the problem for the Pirates. It has been hitting, which was abysmal this past season. Pittsburgh finished last in MLB in home runs, and several other offensive statistical categories including runs scored.</p><h2><b>Pirates are searching for offense this offseason</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jack-Suwinski-.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><p>The Pirates are taking swings this offseason to try and find some solid bats. Pittsburgh failed to land free agent Kyle Schwarber, who signed a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-most-exciting-move-planned-josh-naylor-bid-fails">Pirates also failed to land Josh Naylor</a>, who decided to stay with the Seattle Mariners.</p><p>Pittsburgh did make a trade this offseason, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-overlooked-red-sox-pirates-trade-surprisingly-sparks-flurry-reactions">sending starting pitcher Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox</a>. In return, the Pirates picked up prospect Jhostynxon Garcia.</p><p>The Pirates general manager Ben Cherington says his club <a href="https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/pirates-offer-kyle-schwarber-contract" rel="noopener">is remaining active</a> on possible trades and additions.</p><p>“I am very confident we’ll be able to execute between now and Spring Training,” Cherington said at MLB Winter Meetings, per MLB.com. “I don’t know when it will happen. I don’t have a sense if it’s going to happen in the next three days, next week or next month. Confident that we’re going to be able to land some stuff that makes us feel better about the position player group and the depth of the lineup going into Spring Training. Believe that the best way to do that is to be engaged on as many fronts as possible. You chase 100 things, and three, four, five land. That’s still the stage we’re at.”</p><p>Pirates fans are hopeful that Cherington, Murphy and manager Don Kelly can finally field a winning ball club in 2026.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

New pitching coach sets lofty goal for Pirates in 2026 and beyond

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-pirates-royals-linked-astros-jake-meyers-trade-talks');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Pirates, Royals linked to Astros’ Jake Meyers trade talks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Astros-Jake-Meyers.jpg"><figcaption>© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Pirates, Royals linked to Astros’ Jake Meyers trade talks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T09:52:57-08:00">December 9th, 9:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T09:53:17-08:00">December 9th, 9:53am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Astros</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Trade talks <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/3-blockbuster-mlb-trades-need-happen-blow-up-offseason">continue this offseason for several players in Major League Baseball</a>, during the league’s winter meetings in Orlando, Florida. Another player getting discussed in trade talks is Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6874837/2025/12/09/mlb-trade-market-winter-meetings-ketel-marte/" rel="noopener">are apparently talking</a> to Houston about a possible deal, per The Athletic.</p><p>Houston is in need of pitching this offseason.</p><p>“They have spoken to the Pittsburgh Pirates about righty Mike Burrows, but those talks may have cooled since the Pirates acquired outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia from the Red Sox. The Kansas City Royals, dangling lefty Kris Bubic, are another possibility for Meyers, but they are exploring numerous other outfield possibilities as well,” Ken Rosenthal wrote.</p><p>Houston is also apparently speaking with Tampa Bay, about sending Meyers to the Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shane Baz. The Astros are reportedly offering Meyers for other Tampa Bay starters as well.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-bob-nightengale-pirates-ketel-marte-trade-diamondbacks">Pirates have been in talks this offseason with teams</a>, offering pitching for offense. Kansas City is meanwhile rumored to be wanting some outfield help this offseason.</p><h2><b>Jake Meyers could be a sold addition to an MLB team</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/houston-astros/astros-jake-meyers-ties-yordan-alvarez-with-epic-franchise-record-vs-white-sox">Meyers has proven to be a solid bat during his time in MLB</a>. In the 2025 season, the outfielder hit at a .292 batting average. He collected 100 total hits, including three home runs on the campaign.</p><p>The outfielder’s best campaign with the Astros came in 2024. That season Meyers hit a career-high 13 home runs, and posted a career-high 61 RBIs. He is also known as an excellent defender.</p><p>There are other teams rumored to be interested in Meyers. The Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/royals-reds-among-teams-with-interest-in-jake-meyers.html" rel="noopener">have also checked in</a> with the Astros about him, per MLB Trade Rumors.</p><p>Meyers has played in Houston since the 2021 season. He was a part of the team’s 2022 World Series championship campaign. Meyers has posted more than 1,400 at-bats since he has been in Houston.</p><p>Houston finished the 2025 season with a 87-75 record, and placed second in the American League West.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Pirates, Royals linked to Astros’ Jake Meyers trade talks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-120-million-kyle-schwarber-offer-wont-be-enough');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates rumors: The $120 million Kyle Schwarber offer that won’t be enough');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kyle-Schwarber_29545a.jpg"><figcaption>© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates rumors: The $120 million Kyle Schwarber offer that won’t be enough</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T07:11:16-08:00">December 9th, 7:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T07:11:43-08:00">December 9th, 7:11am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-most-exciting-move-planned-josh-naylor-bid-fails">Pittsburgh Pirates have been busy this offseason putting out offers</a> to free agents. Pittsburgh is on the hunt for some offense, to help out the pitching staff. It appears though Pittsburgh is going to swing and miss on yet another star free agent.</p><p>The Pirates <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6874837/2025/12/09/mlb-trade-market-winter-meetings-ketel-marte/" rel="noopener">put together a $120 million offer</a> to sign Kyle Schwarber, but The Athletic reports it won’t get through. The proposed deal was for four years.</p><p>“That amount is more than three times the Pirates’ previous record for a free agent, and still is not expected to be enough. To retain Schwarber — and beat out his other reported suitors, including the Red Sox, Reds and New York Mets — the Philadelphia Phillies could go to five years,” Ken Rosenthal reported.</p><p>Schwarber hit 56 home runs during the 2025 regular season, for the Phillies. His bat would be invaluable to a struggling Pirates offense, who finished dead last in Major League Baseball in homers this past season.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-gm-shocked-phillies-kyle-schwarber-reds">Phillies have been projected to keep Schwarber</a>.</p><h2><b>Pirates are desperate for some free agent help</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jack-Suwinski-.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><p>Pittsburgh finished the 2025 season with a 71-91 record. The Pirates haven’t been to the postseason since 2015. Pirates fans are angry at team management, and restless for the team to win with star pitcher Paul Skenes.</p><p>Time is ticking for the team to win with Skenes on the roster. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-admits-frustration-yankees-rumor-now-over-it">Skenes was rumored to want to leave the team</a> for the New York Yankees, although the pitcher refuted those reports. Skenes won the National League Cy Young in 2025.</p><p>The Pirates decided this offseason to keep the team’s general manager, Ben Cherington. Cherington made a trade with the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-acquires-pitcher-in-5-player-trade-with-pirates">Boston Red Sox, sending pitcher Johan Oviedo to Boston for prospect Jhostynxon Garcia</a>. Garcia is seen as someone who can develop into a solid MLB hitter.</p><p>The Pirates also tried to sign Josh Naylor, but he ended up re-signing with the Seattle Mariners. Pittsburgh has also been in the mix to trade for Arizona Diamondbacks star infielder Ketel Marte.</p><p>Time will tell if Pittsburgh can hit some homers in the free-agent market. The Pirates finished the 2025 season dead last in the National League Central.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates rumors: The $120 million Kyle Schwarber offer that won’t be enough

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-pittsburgh-kyle-schwarber-deal-100-million');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates rumors: Pittsburgh offers Kyle Schwarber deal ‘almost certainly’ worth $100 million');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kyle-Schwarber-with-Phillies-5.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates rumors: Pittsburgh offers Kyle Schwarber deal ‘almost certainly’ worth $100 million</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-07T17:49:25-08:00">December 7th, 5:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-07T18:08:01-08:00">December 7th, 6:08pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy is a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints, with expertise in MLB, NHL and golf. Chris graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Pittsburgh Pirates are not <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-free-agency-best-landing-spots-contracts-top-players-open-market">known for their spending in MLB free agency</a>. But they have put in an offer to steal an MVP candidate from their cross-state rivals. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Sunday that the Pirates <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6871295/2025/12/07/pirates-kyle-schwarber-free-agency-mlb/" rel="noopener">have made a</a> free agency offer to Kyle Schwarber as the Winter Meetings begin.</p><p>“The Pittsburgh Pirates have made free-agent designated hitter Kyle Schwarber a four-year offer, according to people briefed on their discussions. The offer almost certainly is for more than $100 million,” Rosenthal reported</p><p>The insider continued, outlining the Buccos’ path to signing Schwarber. “The Pirates remain a longshot to sign Schwarber, whose most likely landing spot remains his previous team, the Philadelphia Phillies. The Boston Red Sox are among the other big-market clubs with known interest in him. The Cincinnati Reds, Schwarber’s hometown team, also are making a push. Schwarber is from Middletown, Ohio, about 35 miles north of Cincinnati.”</p><p>Schwarber finished second in NL MVP voting, only behind Shohei Ohtani, after a 54-homer season. The Phillies made the playoffs, but lost to Ohtani’s Dodgers in the NLDS. That has led to rumors of changes coming to Philly, which could include losing Schwarber.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-gm-shocked-phillies-kyle-schwarber-reds">Reds are a dark horse, as they hope the hometown discount</a> comes into play. Anyone with an open DH role should be involved in the bidding, as Schwarber is one of the best in the game. Could a four-year, $100 million deal get the job done for the Pirates?</p><p>Despite missing the playoffs last year, the Pirates have a great pitching staff to build around. To join the conversation for the NL Wild Card race, they need to improve their offense. They have only given out one $100 million contract in franchise history, an extension to outfielder Bryan Reynolds. Can Schwarber become the second? He would also be the first multi-year free agency signing for Pittsburgh since 2016.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates rumors: Pittsburgh offers Kyle Schwarber deal ‘almost certainly’ worth $100 million

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-bob-nightengale-pirates-ketel-marte-trade-diamondbacks');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Bob Nightengale urges Pirates to make Ketel Marte trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Diamondbacks-Ketel-Marte.jpg"><figcaption>© Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Bob Nightengale urges Pirates to make Ketel Marte trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-07T07:41:01-08:00">December 7th, 7:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-07T07:41:26-08:00">December 7th, 7:41am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Arizona Diamondbacks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-more-moves-jhostynxon-garcia-trade">Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to find a way to return to the postseason</a>, after a decade-long drought. Pittsburgh has a valuable asset in starting pitcher Paul Skenes, but not enough run support to help him. One Major League Baseball columnist <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/12/07/mlb-winter-meetings-trade-rumors-free-agents/87655377007/" rel="noopener">is urging the Bucs to trade</a> with the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Ketel Marte.</p><p>“If they really want to be aggressive, they’ve got the pitching depth to trade for Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte,” USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale wrote on Sunday.</p><p>Nightengale argues that the Pirates have the payroll to make a deal for the Arizona infielder.</p><p>“The biggest star who is a realistic candidate to be traded is Ketel Marte. He comes with a relatively modest contract ($92 million) and is under control through 2031. The D-backs however, believe now is the time to sever ties, and are in desperate need for pitching,” Nightengale added.</p><p>During the 2025 season, Marte hit at a .283 batting average with 28 home runs and 72 RBIs. The Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers are also rumored to be interested in him.</p><h2><b>The Pirates need offense to return to the MLB Playoffs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jack-Suwinski-.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><p>Pittsburgh finished the 2025 season with a 71-91 record. The Pirates had a starting rotation that was a solid group, led by Skenes. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-denies-yankees-rumors-cy-young-win">Skenes finished the campaign with the National League Cy Young</a> award.</p><p>The Pirates were woeful on offense, though. Pittsburgh finished dead last in almost every statistical category for offense in MLB. Pittsburgh didn’t win over too many fans with their trade deadline moves, as David Bednar, Ke’Bryan Hayes and others left in the late summer.</p><p>Pirates fans are thirsting for the team to win before Skenes leaves town. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-admits-frustration-yankees-rumor-now-over-it">Skenes was rumored to be wanting to head to the New York Yankees</a>. The star pitcher refuted those reports.</p><p>Time will tell if Pittsburgh can add that needed offense. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-most-exciting-move-planned-josh-naylor-bid-fails">Pirates lost out on Josh Naylor after making a push for him</a>, and were previously mentioned as a contender to land free-agent Kyle Schwarber.</p><p>Pittsburgh hasn’t made the postseason since the 2015 season. It has been far longer than that since the Bucs won a division crown.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Bob Nightengale urges Pirates to make Ketel Marte trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-more-moves-jhostynxon-garcia-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates rumors: Pittsburgh to remain active even after Jhostynxon Garcia trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pirates-then-Woosox-outfielder-Jhostynxon-Garcia.jpg"><figcaption>© Alan Arsenault/Special to the Telegram &amp; Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates rumors: Pittsburgh to remain active even after Jhostynxon Garcia trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-05T08:00:40-08:00">December 5th, 8:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-05T08:00:40-08:00">December 5th, 8:00am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-don-kelly-contract-extension-71-91-season">Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t hide from how disastrous their season became</a>, and that reality <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-why-pirates-marlins-players-free-agency-year">pushed them into MLB Free Agency with real urgency</a>. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-acquires-pitcher-in-5-player-trade-with-pirates">Jhostynxon Garcia trade signaled the first shift in strategy</a>, a move that told fans the front office plans to stay active deep into the winter. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-most-exciting-move-planned-josh-naylor-bid-fails">Pirates wants hitters who can lengthen innings</a>, lift the middle of the order, and stabilize a lineup that collapsed too often. Even now, with one deal on the board, the search continues for answers that can change the arc of their rebuild.</p><p>Their <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6864039/2025/12/04/pittsburgh-pirates-offseason-trade-jhostynxon-garcia/" rel="noopener">list of targets runs wide</a>. Jorge Polanco offers switch-hitting balance and playoff-tested poise. Ryan O’Hearn brings left-handed power that can anchor the heart of the lineup. Kazuma Okamoto remains one of the more intriguing hitters available, a blend of discipline, strength, and immediate upside. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/mlb-rumors-brandon-lowe-ideal-fit-pirates-trade">The Pirates have also explored fits with Brandon Lowe</a> and Jeff McNeil through trade, probing rival front offices for a bat that can shift the identity of their offense. Pretty much every hitter available has crossed their radar. That’s how aggressively they’re operating, and that’s why the Garcia move felt like a starting point, not a climax.</p><h2>The Pirates aren’t slowing down</h2><p>Mitch Keller’s name circles every conversation, even if quietly. He has thrown more than 180 innings in each of the last three seasons and remains on a contract teams view as fair value for a mid-rotation anchor. Moving him would require an impact hitter in return — the kind teams rarely surrender without hesitation. It is a possibility, but not a quick one.</p><p>Until then, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-paul-skenes-expected-30-million-boost-help-win-games">the Pirates will keep working the market</a>. They will keep exploring free agency, checking in on hitters, and testing the limits of every offer. The approach became obvious after the Jhostynxon Garcia trade, which signaled the Pirates’ shift toward bolder, faster decisions this winter.</p><p>If the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/mlb-rumors-are-pirates-actually-a-threat-to-steal-kyle-schwarber-from-phillies">Pirates land the bat that finally lifts this lineup this MLB Free Agency</a>, how far can this team climb next season?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates rumors: Pittsburgh to remain active even after Jhostynxon Garcia trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-overlooked-red-sox-pirates-trade-surprisingly-sparks-flurry-reactions');   ga('set', 'title', 'Overlooked Red Sox-Pirates trade surprisingly sparks flurry of reactions');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jhostynxon-Garcia-of-the-Boston-Red-Sox-1.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Cinclair/Telegram &amp; Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Overlooked Red Sox-Pirates trade surprisingly sparks flurry of reactions</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-04T18:10:16-08:00">December 4th, 6:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-04T18:10:16-08:00">December 4th, 6:10pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The offseason is underway as MLB teams are making adjustments to their rosters for next year. With free agency underway, it appears the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-acquires-pitcher-in-5-player-trade-with-pirates">Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates</a> have baseball fans buzzing after a trade they agreed upon.</p><p>Reports indicate that the Red Sox are sending outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and pitcher Jesus Travieso to the Pirates <a href="https://x.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1996735769772503412" rel="noopener">in exchange for</a> pitcher Johan Oviedo, pitcher Tyler Samaniego, and catcher Adonys Guzman, according to MLB Insider Robert Murray.</p><p>“The Boston Red Sox are acquiring Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego, and Adonys Guzman from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jhostynxon Garcia and Jesus Travieso, according to a source familiar with the deal.”</p><p>Fans have mixed reactions to the trade. However, two names seem to pop off the page. Red Sox fans are seemingly excited about Oviedo’s potential as a starting pitcher, while Pirates fans are over the moon about adding Garcia to the outfield.</p><p>“Jhostynxon Garcia is far from a finished product, but he has some very strong upside. This is the type of player some people wanted for Mitch Keller in July. And they just landed him for Johan Oviedo,” <a href="https://x.com/_NoahHiles/status/1996736147431870551" rel="noopener">explained Noah Hiles</a> of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.</p><p><a href="https://x.com/SavageSports_/status/1996759858666782990" rel="noopener">One individual theorized</a>, “Feels like the Red Sox are loading up to make another big trade. They have too many pitchers and want to move Duran or Casas. They’re positioned well.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">And throws 98.</p><p>— X TWITR USER (@bigleagues) <a href="https://twitter.com/bigleagues/status/1996743622604017771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I think it helps the Pirates a bit more in their situation,” <a href="https://x.com/TheDudeOfMeme/status/1996744168559739133" rel="noopener">claimed one fan</a>.</p><p><a href="https://x.com/icomaki2/status/1996758663319744897" rel="noopener">This person states</a>, “Good trade for Red Sox.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="qme"> <a href="https://t.co/oiI0OJoubg">pic.twitter.com/oiI0OJoubg</a></p><p>— Ⓜ️arty (@MartyOnFifthAve) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartyOnFifthAve/status/1996760608394412432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Both MLB teams are likely not done with making moves. The Red Sox are trying to build a roster for a deep run in next year’s playoffs after being bounced out in the Wild Card round by the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-3-4-million-record-paul-skenes-just-set">the Pirates might be prioritizing</a> adding youth, especially position players, as the club hopes to be more competitive in 2026 and potentially make a playoff appearance for the first time since 2015.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Overlooked Red Sox-Pirates trade surprisingly sparks flurry of reactions

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-acquires-pitcher-in-5-player-trade-with-pirates');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox acquire pitcher in 5-player trade with Pirates');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Boston-acquires-pitcher-in-5-player-trade-with-Pirates.jpg"><figcaption>Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox acquire pitcher in 5-player trade with Pirates</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-04T16:28:17-08:00">December 4th, 4:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-04T16:42:43-08:00">December 4th, 4:42pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chris.spiering.3" rel="facebook">Chris Spiering</a>Chris Spiering graduated from the University of San Diego with a Communication Studies Degree. He spent his final year as the Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris used to manage the betting team at ClutchPoints and now contributes about the NFL, MLB, NCAA Sports, and NBA, but he follows most sports, including NCAA Basketball. Chris also covers San Diego State men's basketball for East Village Times.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Red Sox are at it again.</p><p>The Sox are building a roster worthy of competing for a World Series title in 2026. On Thursday, <a href="https://x.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1996735769772503412" rel="noopener">Boston acquired pitcher</a> Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. This comes after a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-sonny-gray-cardinals-garrett-crochet">massive Sonny Gray trade</a> last week.</p><p>“The Boston Red Sox are acquiring Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jhostynxon Garcia and Jesus Travieso, according to a source familiar with the deal.”</p><p>Oviedo has had a decent career as a starting pitcher. In 67 career starts, Oviedo has a 4.24 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 1.8 K/BB, and has 321 strikeouts in 361.0 innings between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pirates.</p><p>Tyler Samaniego is a minor league pitcher with a career 3.82 ERA. Adonys Guzman is a prospect with little experience.</p><p>For the Pirates, they land a promising prospect, Jhostynxon Garcia. Garcia was the Sox’s No. 3 prospect on MLB Pipeline. He’s ready to make the leap to the MLB. In his seven career at-bats, Garcia has one double and two walks. The outfielder will get much more of an opportunity with the Pirates, as he fits that ball club’s window much better than with the Red Sox. Jesus Travieso is a minor league pitcher with little experience as well.</p><p>The Red Sox are trying to build a solid rotation. They have a ton of depth, especially after this move for Oviedo. It’s still early in the offseason, so the Red Sox will make more trades. With the depth they have at starting pitcher, they could package some of them up for an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/mlb-rumors-red-sox-tigers-rays-among-teams-on-ketel-marte-trade-radar">elite position player, say… Ketel Marte</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox acquire pitcher in 5-player trade with Pirates

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/mlb-rumors-brandon-lowe-ideal-fit-pirates-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Brandon Lowe named ‘ideal fit’ for Pirates trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Brandon-Lowe-with-TB-Rays.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Brandon Lowe named ‘ideal fit’ for Pirates trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-01T06:41:15-08:00">December 1st, 6:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-01T06:41:15-08:00">December 1st, 6:41am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy is a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints, with expertise in MLB, NHL and golf. Chris graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Pittsburgh Pirates have been heavily rumored to be big spenders in the MLB offseason. That is not something fans are used to. They have not signed a free agent to a multi-year deal since Ivan Nova before the 2017 season. But with an elite young pitching staff, they have to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-3-4-million-record-paul-skenes-just-set">spend to get Paul Skenes into the playoffs</a>. Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6850835/2025/12/01/mlb-offseason-free-agency-updates/" rel="noopener"> could be a trade</a> fit for the Pirates.</p><p>“The Rays have spent years pondering the possibility of trading second baseman Brandon Lowe. Now, with Lowe set to earn $11.5 million in the final year of his contract, the possibility might finally become real. Lowe, 31, would seem an ideal fit for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are casting a wide net for left-handed hitters and might be more successful acquiring them in trade than free agency,” the report read.</p><p>The Rays, of course, are not alone. Rosenthal and Woo reported, “The Athletics and San Francisco Giants are among the other clubs seeking to upgrade at second base.”</p><p>The Pirates have made a trade with the Rays in the past that did not work out for them. They added Chris Archer after a great start to his career. But Tyler Glasnow, the prospect they gave up to get him, had a much better career than Archer. This may bring back bad memories for Bucco fans, but adding to the offense is a necessity.</p><p>The Pirates dealt with trade rumors already this season. A story had <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-admits-frustration-yankees-rumor-now-over-it">Skenes connected to the New York Yankees, something he categorically denied</a>. This is the trade rumor they would like to be associated with. But to keep these ones coming and stop the Skenes ones, they actually have to follow through on this trade.</p><p>Could the Pirates be the right fit for Lowe this winter?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Brandon Lowe named ‘ideal fit’ for Pirates trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-3-4-million-record-paul-skenes-just-set');   ga('set', 'title', 'The $3.4 million record Pirates’ Paul Skenes just set');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pirates-Paul-Skenes-1.jpg"><figcaption>© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>The $3.4 million record Pirates’ Paul Skenes just set</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-25T11:28:52-08:00">November 25th, 11:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-25T11:29:19-08:00">November 25th, 11:29am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-admits-frustration-yankees-rumor-now-over-it">Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes continues to draw a lot of attention</a>. Skenes <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47096835/paul-skenes-gets-record-34m-pre-arbitration-bonus-pool" rel="noopener">just picked up</a> a whopping $3.4 million in bonus money in the pre-arbitration bonus pool, per the Associated Press. That’s a Major League Baseball record, for the National League Cy Young award winner.</p><p>Skenes is the ace of a Pirates rotation that put up some pretty impressive numbers in 2025. While the Pirates were dead last in the National League Central division, Pittsburgh’s arms posted above average numbers on the mound.</p><p>The pre-arbitration bonus pool is geared at helping young players in MLB. The Pirates pitcher has now earned more than $5.5 million in two seasons, due to the pool. Skenes is up for salary arbitration after the 2026 season.</p><p>The Pirates finished the 2025 season with a 71-91 record.</p><h2><b>Pirates say they are making it a priority to support Paul Skenes</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pirates-Paul-Skenes-earns-unanimous-NL-Cy-Young-for-the-first-time.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Pirates lost games in 2025 because of poor run support. Pittsburgh was dead last in MLB in virtually every offensive statistical category. Pittsburgh failed to make the postseason once again, and hasn’t seen the MLB Playoffs since 2015.</p><p>Pirates management is taking some swings at free agents this offseason. Pittsburgh reportedly was trying to sign Josh Naylor, before <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-most-exciting-move-planned-josh-naylor-bid-fails">Naylor signed a new contract with the Seattle Mariners</a>. Kyle Schwarber is also reportedly getting a lot of interest from the Bucs.</p><p>Pirates fans are thirsting for success. Pittsburgh is hoping to field a winning ball club once again, which it has rarely seen in the last 30 plus years. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-denies-yankees-rumors-cy-young-win">Pirates fans are deeply concerned Skenes will leave for greener pastures</a>, as soon as his contract allows him to.</p><p>In his short MLB career, Skenes has already compiled a mountain of accomplishments. He finished the 2024 season as the National League Rookie of the Year. He was the starting pitcher for the NL All-Star team that year, despite not even being on the roster on Opening Day.</p><p>Skenes has also been named an All-Star now for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In the 2025 campaign, Skenes was the MLB ERA leader.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The $3.4 million record Pirates’ Paul Skenes just set

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-why-pirates-marlins-players-free-agency-year');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Why Pirates, Marlins could be players in free agency this year');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Kyle-Stowers.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Rassol-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Why Pirates, Marlins could be players in free agency this year</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-24T14:24:16-08:00">November 24th, 2:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-24T15:52:26-08:00">November 24th, 3:52pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a Senior Editor who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, The Needle Drop, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Marlins</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-ken-rosenthal-sounds-off-salary-cap">MLB world continues to debate a potential future salary cap</a> and how it could impact teams in big and small markets alike, one question has remained remarkably consistent: Will small-market teams actually pay up for their players if their more financially successful counterparts are capped out of free agency?</p><p>While the conditions of a new salary cap-impacted version of MLB remain to be seen, according to Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic, the potential of a new paradigm could force smaller market teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Miami Marlins to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6832284/2025/11/24/miami-marlins-pittsburgh-pirates-spending-offseason-revenue-sharing/" rel="noopener">pay up now</a> in order to prove they are deserving of a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-news-former-marlins-president-makes-mlb-lockout-guarantee">larger portion of a future revenue share</a>.</p><p>“There is a possibility of a fight among clubs over revenue sharing, with the smaller markets seeing a greater contribution. The payors (large-market clubs) will argue that insufficient revenue-sharing funds are being spent on player acquisition,” agent Seth Levinson told The Athletic.</p><p>“Hence, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the smaller markets compete for talent in the free-agent market to convince the payors that they are committed to putting a better product on the field.”</p><p>While the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers have been blasted considerably for spending<a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025"> over $350 million on their payroll</a>, which is just under $8 million more than the No. 2 team, the New York Mets, they have unquestionably put plenty of their revenue back on the field with a star-studded roster. The 79-83 Marlins, by contrast, paid just 19 percent of that total, falling $32.2 million below the $100 million threshold in 2025 at $67.8 million. If the Marlins and Pirates, who paid $84.4 million in 2025, decide to pay up and field more competitive teams in the future, the real winner will be baseball fans around the world.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Why Pirates, Marlins could be players in free agency this year

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-pittsburgh-agrees-contract-outfielder');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates agree to contract with outfielder');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jack-Suwinski-.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates agree to contract with outfielder</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-20T17:45:21-08:00">November 20th, 5:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-20T19:21:46-08:00">November 20th, 7:21pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Pittsburgh Pirates have made one of their first notable moves of the MLB offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $1.25 million contract with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/1-disappointing-player-pirates-must-trade-in-offseason">outfielder Jack Suwinski to avoid arbitration</a>. The agreement ensures Suwinski remains in Pittsburgh while finalizing one of the organization’s most uncertain <a href="https://x.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1991653134167601597" rel="noopener">roster decisions ahead of Friday’s non-tender deadline</a>.</p><p>“Sources: Jack Suwinski and the Pirates have agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million contract to avoid arbitration,” reported FanSided’s Robert Murray took to his X (formerly known as Twitter).</p><p>Suwinski’s deal offers both sides short-term stability. For the Pirates, the contract provides a low-cost opportunity to retain a player with proven home run power during a thin offensive period. Despite struggling through a difficult 2025 season—hitting just .147 with a .534 OPS—he remains one of the team’s few potential sources of left-handed power after belting 26 home runs in 2023.</p><p>The timing proved significant for the outfielder, who just wrapped up his third MLB season in 2025. He had been viewed as a possible non-tender candidate, which would have allowed the team to decline offering Suwinski a deal and make him a free agent. Instead, the Pirates secured him at a fixed salary, guaranteeing roster stability and giving him the opportunity to compete for an Opening Day spot.</p><p>With Suwinski now out of Minor League options, the spring ahead will determine whether he remains part of the club’s long-term plans. For the outfielder, this deal secures a $465,000 raise and a final opportunity to reclaim his 2023 form.</p><p>His 2023 campaign with Pittsburgh was widely regarded as a breakout year. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-jack-suwinski-barry-bonds-mccovey-cove-record">Suwinski led the team</a> with 26 home runs and drove in 74 RBIs, showcasing improved plate discipline and consistent power production across the lineup. That version of the outfielder demonstrated the type of offensive ceiling the Pirates are hoping to see again as they prepare for the 2026 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates agree to contract with outfielder

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-admits-frustration-yankees-rumor-now-over-it');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates’ Paul Skenes admits frustration over Yankees rumor, but now he’s ‘over it’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Paul-Skenes-1.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates’ Paul Skenes admits frustration over Yankees rumor, but now he’s ‘over it’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T16:40:35-08:00">November 18th, 4:40pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T16:40:35-08:00">November 18th, 4:40pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut-based sports journalist with over five years of professional experience. After graduating from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, he has covered every sport from fencing to football in the online and print medium. Dan hopes to see his beloved Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Amidst <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-denies-yankees-rumors-cy-young-win">winning his second Cy Young award</a>, rumors began spreading that Pittsburgh Pirates superstar <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/yankees-rumors-paul-skenes-pirates-teammate-claims-wants-join-yankees" rel="noopener">Paul Skenes wanted a trade to the Yankees</a>. Skenes wasn’t a big fan of it.</p><p>While the Pirates haven’t won much in his tenure, Skenes is still focused on succeeding in Pittsburgh. He admits the <a href="https://x.com/dpshow/status/1990840168002056530" rel="noopener">initial rumor caused frustration</a>, although he is over the situation now, via the Dan Patrick Show.</p><p>“I was frustrated for a couple hours, and then kind of got over it. It is what it is,” Skenes said. “There’s stuff that is going to come out, both good and bad. Obviously it’s not true.”</p><p>“The hardest part of leaving Air Force for me, was we had just won a conference championship; the first one in the school’s history. We had built that,” he continued. “It felt like there was unfinished work that needed to be done. That’s how it feels right now. That’s what’s on the horizon for us, we just have to do it. Leaving before that would leave a bad taste in my mouth because there’s work to be done that we’ve got to do.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I was frustrated for a couple of hours and then, kind of, got over it… Obviously it's not true." </p><p>– Paul Skenes addresses the rumors of him wanting a trade to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yankees?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yankees</a>. <a href="https://t.co/qI3agQyraw">pic.twitter.com/qI3agQyraw</a></p><p>— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1990840168002056530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Pirates have gone 147-177 over Skenes’ two seasons with the team, finishing last in the NL Central both campaigns. There isn’t much more the right-hander can do, as his first season ended with the Rookie of the Year award and his second the Cy Young. Overall, Skenes has pitched to a 1.96 ERA and a 386/74 K/BB ratio. His 1.97 ERA led MLB in 2025.</p><p>Pittsburgh <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-most-exciting-move-planned-josh-naylor-bid-fails">seems committed to improving their roster heading in 2026</a>. Skenes is all-in on what the Pirates are building. But unless the wins start piling up, rumors surrounding a Skenes trade won’t die down anytime soon.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates’ Paul Skenes admits frustration over Yankees rumor, but now he’s ‘over it’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-most-exciting-move-planned-josh-naylor-bid-fails');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates rumors: The ‘most exciting’ move planned after Josh Naylor bid fails');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pirates-players.jpg"><figcaption>© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates rumors: The ‘most exciting’ move planned after Josh Naylor bid fails</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T07:47:50-08:00">November 18th, 7:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T07:48:24-08:00">November 18th, 7:48am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Pittsburgh Pirates continue the search to end their Major League Baseball Playoffs drought. Pittsburgh is working this offseason to assemble some talent to help improve the team’s batting statistics. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/josh-naylor-massive-contract-stay-with-mariners">the team failed to nab Josh Naylor</a>, the Pirates are now <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman" rel="noopener">looking at promoting a young player</a> to help out the offense.</p><p>“The Pirates are strongly considering giving 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, the consensus minor league player of the year in 2025, the opportunity to win their big league shortstop job, sources told ESPN,” Jeff Passan wrote for that outlet. “While the idea is by no means decided, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Griffin wowed scouts by hitting .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases in his first professional season after going to Pittsburgh with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft.”</p><p>Griffin has yet to play for the Pirates, but he worked his way through some of the franchise’s minor league teams in 2025. He is undoubtedly the most heralded hitter in the team’s farm system.</p><p>“Still, the mere thought of pushing Griffin to team up with a fresh batch of free agent bats and a front-line rotation is tantalizing enough to make the Pirates a team to watch this winter,” Passan added. “The market is unlikely to kick into high gear until after Thanksgiving, sources said, but once it starts burbling, it’s going to be a busy offseason.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-paul-skenes-hidden-gem-teammate-named-trade-candidate">Pirates are looking to trade a pitcher</a> this offseason to also help out the offense. Naylor decided to stay with the Seattle Mariners, after getting lots of buzz from other teams hoping to sign him.</p><h2><b>Can the Pirates win again in 2026?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pirates-SP-Paul-Skenes.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Pirates have arguably the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, in starter Paul Skenes. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-paul-skenes-denies-yankees-rumors-cy-young-win">Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young</a> award. The clock is ticking to assemble talent around Skenes to win, before he could leave in free agency.</p><p>Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is tasked with doing that. He and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-pat-mcafee-calls-out-pirates-unwillingness-to-spend-money">team owner Bob Nutting are under fire from Pirates fans</a> for not spending more to assemble a strong roster.</p><p>There is concern from the team’s front office about pushing Griffin out too early. The last teenage position player to make a MLB debut was Juan Soto in 2018, ESPN reported.</p><p>Pittsburgh finished the 2025 season last in the National League Central, with a 71-91 record. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-don-kelly-contract-extension-71-91-season">Pirates decided to keep manager Don Kelly</a> for the 2026 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pirates rumors: The ‘most exciting’ move planned after Josh Naylor bid fails

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/mlb-rumors-are-pirates-actually-a-threat-to-steal-kyle-schwarber-from-phillies');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Are Pirates actually a threat to steal Kyle Schwarber from Phillies?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Phillies-left-fielder-Kyle-Schwarber-12-reacts-after-a-double.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Are Pirates actually a threat to steal Kyle Schwarber from Phillies?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T07:47:37-08:00">November 18th, 7:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T07:47:37-08:00">November 18th, 7:47am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/the-perfect-contract-phillies-must-offer-kyle-schwarber-to-re-sign-him">Kyle Schwarber is, without a doubt, a hot baseball commodity in MLB free agency</a>. After a stellar 2025 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, teams are understandably interested in having his bat in their offense — the Phillies included.</p><p>Should a Phillies reunion fall through, Schwarber still has several appealing destinations. <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman" rel="noopener">One surprising team is reportedly in the mix</a>, and it’s in the form of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as mentioned by Jeff Passan of ESPN.</p><p>Wrote Passan: “The demand for Schwarber is high, which is no surprise considering he won’t get more than a five-year deal because of his age and positional inflexibility as a full-time designated hitter. Of course, when you hit like Schwarber, neither age nor position matters. Teams have made that abundantly clear, all the way from the obvious suitors (the Philadelphia Phillies are fiending to re-sign him) and the not-so-obvious (yes, Pittsburgh is in on Schwarber as well).”</p><p>Although the Pirates don’t seem to be a tantalizing landing spot for anyone who’s in pursuit of a World Series, Pittsburgh could let the money do the talking to lure a major free agent like Schwarber to sign with the team. The Pirates are coming off a 71-win season in 2024, and they have not been to the MLB postseason in a decade, as they last clinched a playoff spot in 2015.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-draws-eye-opening-david-ortiz-comparison">Schwarber, who will be 33 years old</a> by the time the 2026 MLB season arrives, hit .240/.365/.563 and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-kyle-schwarber-approach-2025-offensive-explosion">led the National League with 56 home runs</a> and paced the big leagues with 132 RBIs in 2025. He also posted a career-best 4.7 bWAR last season, while earning his third All-Star nod.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Are Pirates actually a threat to steal Kyle Schwarber from Phillies?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-paul-skenes-hidden-gem-teammate-named-trade-candidate');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pirates rumors: Paul Skenes’ ‘hidden gem’ of a teammate named as trade candidate');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pirates-Paul-Skenes.jpg"><figcaption>© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pirates rumors: Paul Skenes’ ‘hidden gem’ of a teammate named as trade candidate</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T07:07:53-08:00">November 18th, 7:07am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T07:08:13-08:00">November 18th, 7:08am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-pirates-named-intriguing-fit-cardinals-all-star-trade">Pittsburgh Pirates are searching for pieces this offseason</a> that will help lift the club. Pittsburgh hasn’t made the Major League Baseball Playoffs since 2015, and the club just suffered yet another losing season. Pittsburgh’s pitching was solid, but the hitting was not.</p><p>A Pirate that is getting some trade buzz is starting pitcher Johan Oviedo. Oviedo <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6816195/2025/11/18/seattle-mariners-jorge-polanco-market-mlb-notes/" rel="noopener">is part of a rotation</a> that includes National League Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes.</p><p>“Oviedo, 27, underwent Tommy John surgery in December 2023, then suffered a right lat strain in the spring of ’25 that delayed his return until Aug. 4. But he posted a 3.57 ERA in nine starts down the stretch, emerging as something of an analytical darling,” Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon wrote for The Athletic.</p><p>The Pirates hurler improved his fastball this season, a team official told the outlet. There are other reasons why teams like Oviedo.</p><p>“(He) intrigues teams as a 6-foot-5, 245-pound behemoth who touches 98 mph and is highly competitive, raising the possibility of untapped potential,” the writers added.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-pat-mcafee-calls-out-pirates-unwillingness-to-spend-money">Pirates finished the 2025 season last</a> in the National League Central. Pittsburgh posted a 71-91 record.</p><h2><b>The Pirates need offense</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pirates-playing-the-St.-Louis-Cardinals.jpg"><figcaption>© Tim Vizer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-is-pittsburgh-prepared-to-stop-being-cheapskates-to-help-paul-skenes">Pirates finished at the bottom of MLB</a> in nearly every offensive statistical category during 2025. Pittsburgh fired manager Derek Shelton during the season, and replaced him with interim skipper Don Kelly. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-news-don-kelly-contract-extension-71-91-season">Kelly is staying on to manage the team</a> in 2026.</p><p>Another person staying is general manager Ben Cherington, who has raised the ire of Pirates fans for how he has assembled talent on the roster. Pittsburgh needs some offense this offseason and fans are desperate to see them get it.</p><p>The Pirates haven’t had a winning season in close to a decade. The club has undergone lots of losing seasons since Barry Bonds left the team more than 30 years ago.</p><p>Another Bucs starting pitcher getting trade buzz is hurler Mitch Keller. Keller finished the 2025 campaign with a 4.18 ERA, but picked up just six victories.</p><p>“Righty Mitch Keller, owed $54.5 million over the next three seasons, is perhaps the Pirates starter most likely to go. The team is unlikely to trade two members of its rotation, and if they chose such a path would need to backfill at least one of those spots,” Rosenthal and Sammon added.</p><p>Time will tell who comes and goes from this Pirates club.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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