Latest news with #PittsburghPost-Gazette
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Yankees are among teams in the mix for strong veteran starter
Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the New York Yankees are among teams showing interest in veteran RHP Mitch Keller. The Pittsburgh Pirates are out of the mix and intend on selling at the trade deadline, with Keller being among the many veteran pieces they have to deal for prospects. Keller has a 3.48 ERA and 3.33 FIP across 20 starts, pitching to contact and relying on elite command to get outs at this stage of his career. He sports a four-seamer, sinker, slider, sweeper, curveball, and changeup, sporting one of the deepest repertoires in the entire sport. Owed money beyond 2025, Keller would serve as a multi-year reinforcement for the Bronx Bombers and their rotation, which has been decimated by injuries. Yankees Showing Interest In Acquiring Mitch Keller At the Deadline Mitch Keller has been one of the top starters in the National League this season, sporting a strong 3.48 ERA with 119 innings pitched in 20 starts. An ironman for the Pirates' rotation, Keller is fifth in MLB in innings pitched since 2023 (491.1 IP), profiling as a number three starter with some upside. The Yankees could make Keller even better with some tweaks, and some in the organization believe there's more to unlock in the veteran right-hander. Pittsburgh and New York are familiar trade partners, with the Pirates sending over pitchers Clay Holmes and Jameson Taillon in recent years. READ MORE: Among starting pitchers, Mitch Keller is 18th in fWAR and 20th in FIP, sporting a strong groundball rate and just a 0.68 HR/9 as a result of elite damage prevention. His fastball velocity has come down a bit from recent years, but Keller still intrigues some forward-thinking organizations because of his lower arm angle and wide array of pitches. Furthermore, Mitch Keller is under contract for three more seasons after 2025, meaning the team acquiring him will have him for 3.5 total seasons. The re-adjusted AAV will be between $17-18 million towards the Luxury Tax, which is certainly manageable for a team, and the Yankees could use some pitching help this deadline. Both the Cubs and Mets are also in the mix, and the Yankees will have to fend off some fierce contenders with strong farm systems to improve their rotation this deadline. Related Headlines UFC 318 Preview and Prediction: Kevin Holland – Daniel Rodriguez The Giants have an All-Pro upside player in new defensive weapon Former Giants star sounds off on team's recent losing stretch: 'Bad moves along the way' Knicks likely to strike out on perfect-fit backup point guard
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Tim Rooney, longtime NFL scout who won two Super Bowls with Giants, dead at 84
Longtime Giants executive Tim Rooney died Tuesday at the age of 84, his family said. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Rooney passed after a bout with cancer. Rooney, the son of Steelers founder Art Rooney, joined the Giants in 1985 as director of pro personnel and served in a full-time role until 1999, helping the franchise to Super Bowl wins in 1986 and 1990. Advertisement Tim Rooney won two Super Bowls with the Giants. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 'Tim was an invaluable member of our player personnel department for 14 seasons as our director of pro personnel,' Giants president John Mara said in a press release. 'He was an accomplished evaluator. More importantly, he was a great person and colleague. Our thoughts are with Tim's wife Mary Ann and children and grandchildren and friends, of which there are many.' Before coming to New York, Rooney served as director of pro personnel for the Steelers from 1972-79, winning three Super Bowls, before a six-season stint with the Lions. Advertisement 'He was a great guy,' Former Giants coach Bill Parcells told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 'When you're a head coach, you need someone to tell you the truth. Tim was our pro personnel guy, and that was his job. We had daily interaction every day talking about the roster. We had a lot of talks and became close. That enhanced our relationship. He understood me, and I understood him.' Former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi also spoke highly of Rooney. 'He was a wonderful guy to work with,' Accorsi said, per the Post-Gazette. 'I worked with him for six years before I became the GM. As well as we knew each other, he sheepishly walked into my office when I was hired and said, 'You don't have to keep me.' Of course I was going to keep him. But that was him. He just wanted to know he was welcome.' Rooney kicked off his football career coaching high school in the Pittsburgh area, later joining the coaching staffs of Villanova and Rhode Island University before jumping to the NFL.
New York Post
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Paul Skenes reveals he'd cut grass professionally after hanging with Pirates' grounds crew
Paul Skenes had an interesting way of warming up before his start on Tuesday. Before a 1-0 win over the Cardinals, the Pirates ace was spotted talking with the team's ground crew at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that he spent around 15-20 minutes chatting with the crew while they tended to the infield. Whatever wisdom was shared between the two parties didn't hurt, as he went out and had a great outing with five scoreless innings in the Pittsburgh victory. Pirates star ace Paul Skenes. Getty Images After the game, Skenes said he hung out with the grounds crew because he was bored, but he did add that he'd cut grass professionally after retirement from baseball, the Post-Gazette reported. But for the 23-year-old starter, retirement should be far away. Once again, the young ace is a candidate for the NL Cy Young Award. As a rookie last season, he was a nominee for the award, losing out to Braves ace Chris Sale. Even though Skenes could not bring home the award, he still had a fantastic season by winning the NL Rookie of the Year and starting the All-Star Game for the senior circuit. Paul Skenes holding the Rookie of the Year trophy. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images In all, he had a record of 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. This season, although he has a 4-7 record, his other numbers remain elite, including an NL-best 2.03 ERA. Despite another stellar Skenes season, the Pirates' offense has ranked toward the bottom of the league, hitting the second-fewest home runs in MLB and compiling the seventh-lowest batting average. The Pirates sit last in the NL Central with a record of 38-50.
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jason Mackey makes bold claim about new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers hasn't even been a Steeler for a whole month, but Jason Mackey of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has ranked him above some of Steel City sports superstars. On Monday, Mackey named Rodgers the most important person in Pittsburgh sports — over Steelers OLB T.J. Watt, HC Mike Tomlin, Pirates' Paul Skenes, and Penguins' Sidney Crosby, and his selection process came down to one aspect — winning. Mackey argued Skenes and Crosby couldn't be selected due to a lack of team success, while Watt's down year in 2024 may have hurt his chances. Tomlin's 'never had a losing record' feat, while an impressive, doesn't excuse some other flaws, like the lack of playoff wins or his coaching staff decisions. Ultimately, Rodgers was the only one left in Mackey's eyes who fit the bill the best as the most important person in Pittsburgh sports — claiming that his impact on the Steelers' wins and losses in 2025 justified the top spot. The Rodgers selection is certainly a difficult decision to make — as while Pittsburgh sports is loaded with superstars, the big three franchises have struggled where it matters most over recent years. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers' Will Howard thankful for Aaron Rodgers mentorship: 'He's been so awesome to me'
Aaron Rodgers may have been brought in to lead the Steelers' offense — but his wisdom and role as a mentor for rookie QB Will Howard has gone a long way in such a short amount of time. On insider Brian Batko's Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Howard spoke highly of Rodgers' mentorship and the knowledge he's passing along (courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette): "He's been so awesome to me so far," Howard said. "I mean, obviously we've only gotten to be together for about three days, but I got a really good feeling about him and about this whole QB room. I think we already, in this past week, meshed really well — hit it off. I think we got a good vibe, good group, and Aaron's been just so willing to help me. He's like, 'Literally, as much or as little as you want me to help you, I'll be there.' He's already given me tips, little things here and there — even in the meeting room, on the field, in my drops, different little things. Obviously, I can't do the things that he can do mechanically, so I don't want to replicate that too much because that's pretty unique. But, for the most part, everything I can learn from that guy is invaluable." When Howard was first drafted, it seemed as if Steelers legendary QB Ben Roethlisberger was taking the Ohio State Buckeye under his wing — but who could say no to learning from two future Hall of Fame QBs? For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
