The Pirates have added right-handed relief help, and they’ve more than likely moved on from one of their top relievers from 2024-25 to make it happen.

Pittsburgh acquired right-hander Ron Marinaccio, 31, from the Padres on Wednesday in a trade for international signing bonus pool considerations and designated reliever Dennis Santana

NEW YORK -- Late Wednesday night did not offer much opportunity for perspective.

The Pirates suffered a 2-0 loss after they struck out 12 times, bringing their daily total to 29. The decision to replace Bubba Chandler with Brandon Eisert after 6 1/3 innings and 84 pitches obviously proved costly.

But the

NEW YORK — When Pirates players dispersed for the All-Star break 10 days ago, there was arguably no bigger question mark than Mitch Keller.

The right-hander had lasted just three innings in his previous start. Over his last 11, Keller had a 7.03 ERA while ceding 11 home runs in 56

NEW YORK -- One has nothing to do with the other, Dennis Santana insisted.

But given the frustration Santana showed in the eighth inning Monday, yelling at Yankees shortstop José Caballero for taking too long to get in the batter’s box, it’s hard to believe it’s entirely independent of how he’s

NEW YORK -- When David Bednar returned to the home clubhouse at Yankee Stadium after playing catch on Monday afternoon, there was a surprise waiting at his locker.

Twenty-four of them, in fact.

Before the Pirates arrived in New York, Bednar half-jokingly asked Pittsburgh’s assistant clubhouse manager Nik Cook and head of

CLEVELAND — Back with another collection of tidbits from Sunday’s Pirates Insider Show …

Ben Cherington described the Pirates’ bullpen issues this season as “a pretty focused area” when it comes to improving the team. But the general manager emphasized that immediate fixes would have to come internally.

Asked how the Pirates

CLEVELAND — The biggest game of Billy Cook’s career was amazingly preceded by the biggest moment of his personal life.

While many of his Pirates teammates were vacationing or otherwise relaxing last week over the All-Star break, Cook got married. Yes, married.

“It wasn’t a courthouse thing,” Cook said. “We didn’t elope.”

No,

CLEVELAND — The story of the game was the Pirates bullpen blowing another save, but Jared Jones’ frustration was impossible to ignore back on June 27 against the Reds at PNC Park.

It was Jones’ sixth start back from internal brace surgery. Cincinnati tagged him for four runs (three earned) in

PHILADELPHIA -- Forget Paul Skenes’ velocity, Braxton Ashcraft’s ascent or the Pirates' bullpen struggling.

The wildest first-half storyline with this team has been a screeching and squealing offensive U-turn, Pittsburgh going from worst to (tied for) first in runs scored and flipping this facet from weakness to strength.

It should’ve been represented

PHILADELPHIA -- While the outside world spent plenty of time over the past few months pondering what’s wrong with Paul Skenes -- the dip in velocity, nine games without a win -- the Pirates ace has remained methodical.

Skenes hasn’t wavered. He trusts his process and believes the under-the-hood numbers his

PHILADELPHIA — Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft are both good at pitching. That much was established long ago and reaffirmed by their trip to the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.

But along with being talented, they’re also smart, insightful and sneaky funny.

While tackling plenty of serious topics during formal

PHILADELPHIA — Before Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft took their seats along Ashburn Alley beyond the outfield at Citizens Bank Park on Monday afternoon, Skenes made sure to introduce Ashcraft to his good friend and Plum native Pat McAfee, who was broadcasting live from the MLB All-Star Game.

It was one

PHILADELPHIA -- Edward Florentino walked onto the field at Citizens Bank Park Sunday morning and soaked in the scene, gazing into the stands and around at some of baseball’s top prospects.

Inside the National League clubhouse, Florentino turned to his right and saw his High-A Greensboro teammate, Seth Hernandez, the Pirates’

The Pirates have indeed traded their Competitive Balance-A Round Pick for help, and it will address needs at shortstop with Konnor Griffin’s injury and in the bullpen.

Late Friday, the Pirates flipped the 34th overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft to the White Sox for infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed

As his teammates were busy preparing to face the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on Wednesday, Mitch Keller sat in the Pirates dugout, chatting with someone who has become a close friend: 9-year-old Jordon Kessler of Verona.

Joined by his younger brother Jonah and their mom and dad, Aubrey and Jordon

The Pirates have been bitten by the injury bug.

Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz are rehabbing in Florida. Konnor Griffin will be out until September with a torn sagittal band in his left ring finger. But as general manager Ben Cherington sees it, none of that changes the Pirates’ goals for

Ryan O’Hearn is unquestionably one of the nicest players on the Pirates roster, the guy who organizes charity trips on the road, who treats everyone the same and ensures guys feel comfortable. But on a few occasions this season, O’Hearn hasn’t been afraid to stand his ground.

The topic has generally

Braxton Ashcraft is more than a deserving All-Star — he is one.

Ashcraft will replace Paul Skenes for the MLB All-Star Game next Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the league announced on Tuesday.

The move comes after Skenes said Saturday he'd pitch on Tuesday and Sunday of this week, thus

A collection of tidbits from Sunday’s Pirates Insider Show …

Obviously don’t bet on baseball. That’s very, very bad. And illegal.

But there are a few bets the Pirates are making that general manager Ben Cherington and I discussed Sunday on the Pirates Insider Show.

The Pirates are 46-45 entering this week’s six-game

WASHINGTON — Eighty players arrived at Truist Park last July for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. But as they flew home or to their team’s next road city, an unlikely pair boarded the same charter flight bound for Tampa, Fla.

One played for the Rays, the other the Orioles. They had

WASHINGTON — When Konnor Griffin stepped into the batter’s box in the top of the eighth inning Sunday, the task for the Pirates felt as tall as the Washington Monument.

Looking to end their road trip with a winning record, the Pirates had gone just 2 for 12 with runners in

WASHINGTON — Pirates manager Don Kelly was thrilled to tell Paul Skenes he was an All-Star for the third time in three seasons. It’s a tremendous accomplishment, even if Skenes downplayed some by referencing Chris Sale making the Midsummer Classic 10 times.

“He’s certainly earned it,” Kelly said of Skenes. “He’s

WASHINGTON -- Contrary to 2025, slugging has not been an issue for the Pirates this season. In fact, they began Saturday’s game with the fourth-highest slugging percentage in MLB and the second-best OPS.

The Pirates didn’t slug much on the Fourth of July at Nationals Park, perhaps saving the fireworks for

WASHINGTON — The trade the Pirates made more than two weeks ago might finally bear fruit, as Hunter Stratton joined the Major League team for Saturday’s game at Nationals Park following a short stint with Triple-A Indianapolis.

To make room for Stratton on the active roster, the Pirates placed Evan Sisk