Where we stand as winter meetings arrive

The Cleveland Indians have relative pennies to spend this winter, and the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers won't spend much, either. The Los Angeles ...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 06, 2009

Starters with same agents could push prices

Chone Figgins is generally regarded as the third-best position player on the market, behind Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, and the fact that he is signi...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 05, 2009

Breaking down market moves and chatter

Let's pick through some recent developments in the market … Item A: The Phillies know Placido Polanco from his days with the team earlier this...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 04, 2009

Are Pirates trying to win?

From Pirates president Frank Coonelly's recent Q&A with fans, in response to the argument that some...

...fourth inning of the the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US...

The Yankees' case for Halladay

...598.4 million Giants: $595.2 million Smallest free-agent outlays 1999 to 2008 (approximate in millions) Pirates: $55.6 million Twins: $80.2 million Athletics: $87.7 million Nationals: $91.5 million Padres: $106...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 03, 2009

Roberto Alomar's brilliance still on display

You say you are young, and didn't see Roberto Alomar play? No problem. You get a chance to witness the brilliance of Roberto Alomar just about every ...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 02, 2009

...25: Starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf #49 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the major...

Cameron centered on the playoffs

A longtime NL advance scout watched Mike Cameron late in the 2009 season and came away thinking that even at age 36, Cameron remains one of the game's...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 01, 2009

Average salary just short of $3 million

The average baseball salary fell just short of $3 million this year, with the percentage increase slowing to its lowest level since 2004.

My 2010 Hall of Fame ballot

I don't have a ballot for the Hall of Fame yet -- just nine years to go -- but if I did, my ballot would include: Tim Raines, Mark McGwire, Bert Bl...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 30, 2009

Blogging The Nation

...pro sports? That honor still goes to the Pittsburgh Pirates. OSUJetsGiants: We're going to go out on...

Marlins may handle Johnson as Indians did Lee

...McGee to their bullpen, writes Joe Smith, as he comes back from Tommy John surgery. 3. The Pirates' biggest splash could come in the Rule 5 draft, writes Dejan Kovacevic. 4. The Red Sox made...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 29, 2009

USDA Intern/Pittsburgh Pirate Ohlendorf Dramatically Improves Softball Team

...kitchen? C'mon guys, you can tell me. Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Ross Ohlendorf has landed an unpaid internship...

Ohlendorf spending offseason as intern

Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf shows up every day at the office for his internship in a kind of throwback to earlier times when baseball players had to supplement their income working offseason jobs.