MLB · NL Central
Pittsburgh Pirates news Saturday, November 14, 2026
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The 30-second version
The 5-minute version
202682–80
3rd NL Central · Missed playoffs
Fri, Feb 19 vs Blue Jays
Pirates should re-sign Brandon Lowe and add a lefty starter and a closer, a fan blog argues.
Bucs Dugout says the Pirates, who went 82-80 and have not reached the playoffs since 2015, need stability in the rotation and a reliable closer, and that injuries hurt the starters. The post says Lowe, a free agent who received a qualifying offer, hit .260 with 96 RBIs and 35 home runs.
Source: Bucs Dugout
From Wednesday
Pirates GM Ben Cherington reportedly says Mitch Keller is healthy and throwing ahead of 2027.
According to Bucs Dugout, a fan blog, Cherington said the Pirates need more from Keller next season. Keller finished last season 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA and ended the year on the 60-day injured list with a grade 3 muscle strain. He is signed through 2028, scheduled to earn $18 million next season and $20 million the year after.
Source: Bucs Dugout
From Thursday
Brandon Lowe has until November 17 to decide on the Pirates' qualifying offer.
Bucs Dugout projects Lowe could land anywhere from $45 million to $150 million in free agency. It names Jazz Chisholm, coming off a difficult year with the Yankees, and pending free agent Luis Arraez as possible alternatives if Pittsburgh cannot re-sign him.
Source: Bucs Dugout
Around the MLB
No. 1 in the 30-second version
Jake Bauers reportedly agrees to a four-year, $58 million deal with the Red Sox.
According to ESPN, the 31-year-old first baseman agreed to the contract after helping the Brewers win the World Series, where he was NLCS MVP. Bauers hit .266 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs last season, and he declined Milwaukee's $23.15 million qualifying offer. Because of the signing, the Brewers will receive a compensatory draft pick in the 2027 draft.
Sources: NBC Sports · NY Post Sports · CBS Sports · Yahoo Sports
No. 2 in the 30-second version
Yordan Alvarez and Pete Crow-Armstrong win unanimous 2026 MVP awards in the AL and NL.
Alvarez set a career high with 42 home runs and 106 RBIs and led MLB with a .316 batting average, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. Crow-Armstrong led the NL in runs with 119 and home runs with 45, ending Shohei Ohtani's streak of three straight MVPs. Junior Caminero finished second in AL voting, and Ohtani finished second in the NL.
Sources: NBC Sports Philadelphia · ESPN · CBS Sports · Lone Star Ball
No. 3 in the 30-second version
Angels and catcher Tyler Heineman agree to a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration.
According to ESPN, the contract is worth $1,237,500, the same salary Heineman made this year. MLB.com also reported the one-year deal.
Braves agree to a three-year, $35 million deal with free agent reliever Evan Phillips.
Phillips appeared in 31 games for the Dodgers last season, according to ESPN. Lone Star Ball, a fan blog, said the deal was reported and called it the first multi-year deal for a free agent this offseason. The blog noted that Baseball America had projected Phillips to get less than $10 million guaranteed, and that MLB Trade Rumors had projected 2 years and $24 million.
Sources: ESPN · Lone Star Ball
Astros formally introduced Brad Ausmus as manager, the 21st in franchise history.
Ausmus most recently served as the Yankees' bench coach and has five seasons of managerial experience. He said he interviewed for the general manager job before Randy Flores was hired, and that winning the World Series should be the goal every year. Lone Star Ball, a fan blog, reported that Ausmus is close with Jeff Bagwell, an advisor to owner Jim Crane, and questioned how much power Flores will have.
Sources: CBS Sports · Lone Star Ball
How this is made: Summaries are written with AI from the linked reporting. For the full account, read the sources.