Weekly Report: All Quiet As Camp Nears: WBC Rosters, Rookie Ratings, New Nests
Is that camp I see around the bend…?
Pirates Stuff:
- The Pirates signed SS/3B William Lugo to a minor league contract. He’s out of the NY Mets system and joins a long line of no hit infielders that the Pirates just can’t resist. The 24-year-old is expected to open at Altoona.
- WBC Buccos – RHP Paul Skenes (USA); CF Oneil Cruz, RHP Dennis Santana & LHP Gregory Soto (Dominican Republic) will be repping their nations. From the minors, RHP Antwone Kelly (Netherlands) and RHP Po-Yu Chen (Chinese Taipei) will be in action.
- Despite all of last year’s growing pains, CF Oneil Cruz was ranked as the #10 MLB CF by MLB Now.
- More Top 100 Ratings… ESPN has picked four Pirates pups for their list – #1 SS Konnor Griffin, #12 RHP Bubba Chandler, #49 RHP Seth Hernandez and #78 OF Edward Florentino. The Athletic’s Top 100 include Griffin (#1), Chandler (#14), Florentino (#42) and Hernandez (#100).
 |
| Seth’s already Top 100 w/o having thrown a pitch – 2025 Bowman’s 1st |
- Fan Duel released their 2026 predictions; they picked the Pirates to finish fourth in the Central with an over/under of 76.5 wins. ZiPS wasn’t as optimistic; they had the Bucs coming in fifth with 74 wins.
- Former Pirates coach Joey Cora hosted a funder at the Clemente Museum for his wife’s “Voices That Matter” project to promote anti-bullying; Jim Leyland and Don Kelly cohosted the event that raised $10K for the cause.
- The Pirates last percolating FA rumor was hooking up with 3B Eugenio Suarez. No luck there; the Reds swooped in and signed him for a year/$15M and an option, a pretty affordable deal.
- The Washington Nationals claimed recent Bucco prospect IF Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the New York Mets.
- LHP Marco Gonzales signed a minor-league/NRI deal with the San Diego Padres, valued at $1.5M w/$1M in potential bonuses if he makes the big team. He spent 2024 with the Bucs (1-1/4.54), appearing in seven games between injuries and his option wasn’t exercised after the year. He sat out 2025 after flexor surgery. The other half of that year’s FA duo, lefty Martin Perez, inked a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves. His line here was 2-5/5.20 before he was flipped to San Diego at the deadline. The 35-year-old bounced back a bit in ’25 with the White Sox, posting a 3.54 ERA in ten starts.
 |
| Martin Perez – 2024 Topps Update |
- The Dodgers and RHP Ryder Ryan agreed to a minor league contract worth $800K if he makes to the big leagues. Ryder pitched for the Bucs in ’24, posting a line of 1-0/5.66 in 15 outings (20-2/3 IP) and spent all of 2025 at Indy where his slash was 8-1/4.73 in 42 appearances, including a couple of starts.
- Former Pirates RHP Osvaldo Bido was claimed by the Angels. He ended 2025 with the Athletics and since been on the rosters of Atlanta, Tampa, Miami and Anaheim via waiver claims. The Haloes DFA’ed him two days later.
- RH reliever Derek Law, an ’09 Seton LaSalle HS grad who has spent parts of eight seasons in MLB with six clubs after being drafted in 2011, signed a minor league deal with the Giants, the club that originally signed him.
- The Brewers signed C Reese McGuire to a minor league contract/NRI. He was the Bucs backstop of the future when drafted in the first round in 2013 (#14) but never played for the Pirates and was sent to Toronto in 2018. Reese is one of a posse of bad bat, good glove guys that every club stashes.
Source: https://oldbucs.blogspot.com/2026/02/weekly-report-all-quiet-as-camp-nears.html
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,773,622,734 |
| Stories: | 8,577,182 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
