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Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Central

He’s back: Burnett returns to Pirates for $8.5M, 1-year deal

PITTSBURGH - A.J. Burnett believes his right arm has one - and only one - season left in it. The pitcher has no intentions of letting it go to waste.Spurning a chance to remain with floundering Philadelphia, Burnett agree to an $8.5 million, one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday."This is where I belong," Burnett said. "There are certain feelings you get, certain gut things and this was a no-brainer for me."Burnett went 26-21 for the Pirates in 2012-13, helping the franchise return to the postseason in 2013 following a 21-year drought. He'll receive $4.25 million less from ...

Pirates DFA Ike Davis

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pirates have designated first baseman Ike Davis for assignment and have added pitcher Jameson Taillon to the 40-man roster.Davis hit .235 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs in 131 games with Pittsburgh after he was acquired in an April trade from the New York Mets. The left-handed Davis served as part of a platoon at first base with right-handed Gaby Sanchez but found himself out of a job with the Pirates likely moving Pedro Alvarez to first in 2015.Pittsburgh has 10 days to trade Davis or release him. Had he remained on the roster past Dec. 2, he would have been eligible ...

Pirates sign Liriano to 3-year deal

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A person familiar with the negotiations says Francisco Liriano is staying with the Pittsburgh Pirates, agreeing to a $39 million, three-year contract.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement had not been announced.The 31-year-old left-hander joined the Pirates for the 2013 season and went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA. He dropped to 7-10 with a 3.38 ERA this season.Liriano reached a tentative $14 million, two-year contract with Pittsburgh in December 2012, then injured his non-throwing arm. He earned $3,125,000 with the Pirates in 2013 and $8 ...

Pittsburgh pitchers progressing

YOUNGSTOWN - Despite what pundits may believe, Pirates pitching coach Ray Searge does not have crystal ball or a bag of magic beans. His ability to transform struggling pitchers into formidable major leaguers is not a segment of witchcraft. It's actually just a simple dedication to the craft."No. 1, you have to build a trust factor first before (pitchers) believe anything that you say," Searage said at the Pirates annual caravan stop in Youngstown. "We get to know each other, then I make adjustments where it may be needed. Then we show them. We don't lecture and we don't force anything - ...

Rodriguez happy to be with Pirates

YOUNGSTOWN - For fans, making a trade is as simple as clicking a mouse - in fantasy sports.Players don't have to pack their bags and move their family across the country in the online world, but in real life it can be a struggle."It's a change; it's been tough," said newly-acquired Pirate Sean Rodriguez. "You're set in a routine with a team for while, even in the offseason, then it all shifts. Sports are never guaranteed and baseball, in particular, is all about adjustments."Me and my family have been doing it on the fly this past week."On Dec. 1, Rodriguez was traded to Pittsburgh from ...

Pirates acquire LHP Bastardo from Phillies

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo from the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday for minor league lefty Joely Rodriguez.The 29-year-old Bastardo went 5-7 with a 3.94 ERA this year with the Phillies. He struck out 81 and walked 34 in 64 innings. In six big league seasons - all with the Phillies - he is 20-18 with a 3.72 ERA. He has 324 strikeouts in 259 innings.The Pirates were searching for left-handed bullpen help after sending Justin Wilson to the New York Yankees for catcher Francisco Cervelli last month."We had Antonio profiled very ...