Pittsburg, PA
A look at last year’s Pittsburgh Pirates trade deadline acquisitions
Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a few notable trades around the deadline. They traded Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi, both to the San Diego Padres in the same deal, along with Rodolfo Castro to the Philadelphia Phillies, Austin Hedges to the Texas Rangers, and Carlos Santana to the Milwaukee Brewers. Of those four deals, three brought players back. So, how are those players doing for the Pirates right now?
Of course, Bailey Falter, whom the Pirates acquired for Castro, has been far and away the best, and it didn’t always look that way. Falter was very up and down during the home stretch of 2023, then allowed six earned runs in his first start of the year against the Miami Marlins. But since then, he’s been money out of the rotation. Even after getting roughed up by the LA Dodgers, Falter still owns a strong 3.08 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 4.35 FIP over his last 11 starts. Falter might not have a great HR/9 at 1.26 nor an impressive strikeout rate at 16.8%, but he has just a 6% walk rate. He’s the definition of a guy who just induces outs.
Jhonny Severino was acquired for Santana, and he’s been one of the best Florida Complex League hitters. Through 98 plate appearances, Severino batted .298/.396/.607 with five home runs, leading to a .453 wOBA and 155 wRC+. He’s posting a respectable 20.8% strikeout rate and 13.9% walk rate so far. Severino is currently tied with three other players for the most homers but has the 10th-best OPS. Severino hitting for power isn’t a big surprise. After all, that is his calling card. But the above-average strikeout rate is promising, even if it is only in the FCL.
The Pirates got three players back for Choi and Hill. Alfonso Rivas was let go at the end of the season while they DFA’d Jackson Wolf at the end of Spring Training and was then traded back to the Padres. He’s been about average in the PCL this season. That leaves Estuar Suero as the lone member of this trade still on the Pirates.
Suero is a 6’6”, switch-hitting outfielder with some very promising, but very raw, tools. Suero has only had five hits in 24 plate appearances at the FCL. He has struck out nine times and has drawn zero walks so far. Suero has missed some time because of injury, however, so we haven’t seen him back at full strength just yet.
Although Hedges didn’t directly bring a player into the organization, the international money the Pirates received for the veteran backstop led to them signing some of their top international prospects, including Brayln Brazoban and Anthony Sosa. Nephew of infamous Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, Anthony is an infielder/outfielder. Brazoban was one of the best international prospects and he’s off to a good start to his pro career, with four hits in his first 14 plate appearances. Both are currently on the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliates’ rosters.
Falter has been great this year, and Severino has shown some promise. Suero is still figuring things out, but he is young and it might take a minute for him to refine his very good, but very raw talent. We will see how each of these three players continue to play, but so far, the return from last year’s deadline is looking decent. Hopefully, the international money the Pirates used from the Hedges deal was invested well.
Pittsburg softball improved to 16-4 on the season by sweeping host Kansas City Piper 17-1 in five innings and 15-3 in six innings Saturday afternoon.
Breck Slaughter earned the win in both games. She allowed one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks over five innings during the opener. Then, she allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks over three innings.
AnnaLynn Hudson pitched the last three innings of the day for the Purple Dragons.
Offensively, Pittsburg scored 17 runs on 20 hits during the opener and all nine Dragons reached the hit column. Kenleigh Warford led with four hits, Breck Slaughter and Micah Gomez each had three and Brecken Campbell, Brette Pasteur, Laney Trisler and Emily Shriver each had two. Slaughter, Trisler and Gomez each doubled twice and Pasteur and Shriver also recorded two-baggers. Brilee Mantooth homered. Gomez led the Dragons with four RBI, Campbell had three and Trisler, Mantooth and Shriver drove in two each.
The Dragons closed out their sweep with 15 runs on just 11 hits. Pasteur had a monster performance at the plate with four runs scored, three hits in three at-bats, two home runs and five RBI; she also worked a pair of walks and proved to be an utter pain for Piper pitchers Reagan Asbury and Harper Cordill.
Campbell also homered and finished with three hits for the Dragons. Slaughter and Shriver both finished with two hits and both seniors doubled.
Pittsburg won four games during the week and outscored Labette County, Independence and Piper by a combined 59-11. The Dragons return to Southeast Kansas League play on the road Monday against Independence; the Dragons beat the Bulldogs 14-1 in five innings last Thursday in Pittsburg.
The Dragons are looking to wrap up at least a share of the SEK League title.
Pittsburg 612 44 — 17 20 0
KC Piper 000 01 — 1 2 5
Breck Slaughter and Peyton Morey; Stella Utter and Ginny Garcia. W: Slaughter. L: Utter. 2B—PHS: Slaughter 2, Brette Pasteur, Emily Shriver, Laney Trisler 2, Micah Gomez 2; KCP: Faith Flournoy. HR—PHS: Brilee Mantooth.
——
Pittsburg 225 105 — 15 7 2
KC Piper 100 101 — 3 6 6
Breck Slaughter, AnnaLynn Hudson (4) and Peyton Morey; Reagan Asbury, Harper Cordill (5) and Faith Flournoy. W: Slaughter. L: Asbury. 2B—PHS: Slaughter. HR—PHs: Brecken Campbell, Brette Pasteur 2; KCP: Ginny Garcia.
This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund/
Pittsburg, PA
Steelers insider just poured gasoline on the Aaron Rodgers fire following latest report of what he was doing in Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers was supposed to be in Pittsburgh over the weekend, with the thought that a deal would get done. One Steelers insider backs the report, but adds details that only compound a messy situation.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
At this point, the events of the past two seasons between Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers could probably be a book or movie. Everything from walks on the beach, to him throwing with DK Metcalf before signing, to someone capturing him driving a rental car into Pittsburgh has made waves.
This offseason was supposed to be different, and a decision from Rodgers was supposed to come much earlier. However, the Steelers remain in a holding pattern, and one that many believed would end over the weekend, after it was reported that Rodgers would be in town to sign a contract. Well, that seems to be true, but like much of this saga over the past two years, there seems to be a holdup.
Aaron Rodgers 2025 stats
- 3.4 TD to INT ratio.
- 3,322 passing yards.
- 65.7% completion percentage.
Aaron Rodgers visited Pittsburgh, but not the Steelers over the weekend
“Aaron Rodgers has been in town for a couple days, but the Steelers have not met with him yet and instead have been talking with his agent. Rodgers has stayed away from the team’s South Side facility while the three-day rookie minicamp has been going on.” – Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The news from Dulac comes on the heels of the report from 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh that Rodgers would be visiting the Steelers over the weekend, with the intention to sign his deal.
That report was backed up nationally by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, but some in Steelers media (Mark Kaboly) said that if Rodgers was going to be in town, that was news to the team.
Omar Khan said as much during a radio hit after the reports surfaced, saying that he didn’t know where Rodgers was, but that talks remained fluid. Of course, general managers, including Omar Khan, have been known to bend the truth, which seems to lie somewhere in the middle here.
The bottom line with Aaron Rodgers
It’s obvious to me that the Steelers and Rodgers are held up over money. I know that it was said to not be the case, but you don’t intentionally avoid meeting with a team and have your agent talk to them, just days after they use a tender that determines your 2026 salary, if you’re just going to sign.
I would be surprised if Rodgers doesn’t sign at this point, but it doesn’t change the monetary situation that needs to be worked out here.
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