2025 Pittsburgh Pirates Season Review
The Pittsburgh Pirates season concluded on Sunday, as they finished the year with a record of 71-91, while recording seven consecutive losing seasons.
Following a 12-26 start to the season, manager Derek Shelton was relieved of his duties on May 8th, and replaced by bench coach Don Kelly. Under Kelly, the Pirates were 59-65.
Here is a review of the 2025 team position by position.
Catcher
The Pirates catching situation this year felt like going with whoever the hot hand was, or in this case, mitt was. Henry Davis, who caught exclusively for Paul Skenes, struggled offensively again with a .512 OPS. Joey Bart was average -by and large. However, he did perform better in the second half; posting an OPS of .834. Rafael Flores - the headliner of the David Bednar deal - appeared in one game behind the plate.
First base
With Spencer Horwitz missing the first month of the season with a wrist injury, first base was being held down with duct tape. Options included Jared Triolo, Enmanuel Valdez, Endy Rodriguez, and Matt Gorski.
When Horwitz returned, it took time for him to settle in. Overall, Horwitz put up good numbers, as he slashed .272/.353/.434 in 411 plate appearances. From the beginning of August until the end of the season, he had a .948 OPS.
Second base
Nick Gonzales was the Pirates second baseman to begin the season. Following a two-run homer on Opening Day, Gonzales sustained a freak injury rounding the bases. The diagnosis later revealed a fracture in his left ankle. Adam Frazier, who returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal last offseason, handled the primary duties at second base.
Gonzales came off the injured list on June 3rd. The 2020 first rounder had subpar production offensively, with a .260/.299/.362 slash line in 408 plate appearances. In addition, Gonzales’ defensive metrics weren’t kind at all; recording -11 Defensive Runs Saved, along with a -1.0 dWAR.
Shortstop
The Pirates shortstop for most of 2025 was Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The OPS was at .632, while he only registered a +1 DRS.
Kiner-Falefa was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays on August 31st.
Third base
Third base: Ke’Bryan Hayes entered his fifth season as the Bucs Opening Day third baseman. Although the defense at third remained stellar for Hayes (+16 DRS), the offense was lackluster, with a slash of .236/.279/.290 in 392 plate appearances.
The Pirates made one of the more surprising moves at the trade deadline, when they dealt Hayes to the division rival Cincinnati Reds, in exchange for veteran lefty reliever Taylor Rogers - shortly after flipped to the Chicago Cubs - and infield prospect Sammy Stafura.
After Hayes was traded, Kiner-Falefa moved over to the hot corner, and Jared Triolo had been playing mostly shortstop. Down the stretch, Triolo received more starts at third.
Left field
Most of the playing time in left field went to Tommy Pham. The 37-year-old Pham went from having a horrible, first two months, to putting together a pretty respectable season.
Despite being in his late-30’s, Pham was a solid defender in left field; registering a +5 DRS.
Center field
Oneil Cruz finished his first full season as the Pirates center fielder, this after making the move off shortstop late last year.
For Cruz, it was a Jekyll and Hyde type of season for him. Through the first three months, Cruz had the third highest OPS among MLB center fielders. However, his second half numbers took a nosedive. From July onward, he slashed .177/.255/.311. Cruz ended the year with 20 home runs, and even with the bad second half, had a National League leading 38 stolen bases.
As one might expect, it was a learning experience out in center field for Cruz. The figures were disastrous, with an NL most 11 errors, as well as DRS of -15.
Right field
Given the woeful nature of the Pirates offense, Bryan Reynolds is a hitter you can count on, right? Well…
It turns out Reynolds couldn’t get it going either, as the veteran switch-hitter had the worst season of his career. He posted a .245/.318/.402 slash in 654 plate appearances.
Reynolds’ defense has been on a sharp decline in recent years, and 2025 was no exception, with a -0.6 dWAR.
Designated Hitter
For the third straight season, Andrew McCutchen was Pittsburgh’s primary designated hitter. Although the former All-Star displayed flashes of good bat speed this year, his age, 38, was what his offensive production would say, as he put up an OPS of .700 and hit just 13 homers in 477 at-bats.
McCutchen had a 0.1 bWAR, which is the first time he finished a season as a replacement level player since the 2020 Covid season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Starting rotation
For as dominant as Paul Skenes was during his rookie season in 2024, the Pirates ace somehow remained elite this year, as he put up baseball’s best ERA at 1.97. Skenes, who should be the favorite to win the NL Cy Young award, had arguably the greatest pitching season in franchise history.
Mitch Keller had a 4.18 ERA this season in 32 starts. Unfortunately for Keller, 2025 felt like Groundhog Day, as he performed well in the first half, but faded in the second half.
Bailey Falter and Andrew Heaney began the year in the Pirates rotation. Falter was moved at the July 31st deadline to the Kansas City Royals, while Heaney was released by the Bucs on August 29th.
The Pirates received the infusion of young arms into the staff, with Bubba Chandler, Mike Burrows, and Braxton Ashcraft. Additionally, Johan Oviedo returned from both elbow and lat injuries respectively, and pitched to a 3.57 ERA in nine starts.
Bullpen
David Bednar began 2025 as the Pirates closer. Following a demotion to AAA Indianapolis in April, the Pittsburgh native turned it around, as he recorded an ERA of 2.37.
Bednar was then traded to the New York Yankees at the day of the deadline for three prospects, including Rafael Flores.
Dennis Santana replaced Bednar as the team’s closer. Santana performed outstanding all year; posting a 2.18 ERA in 70 appearances.
Unlike Bednar, Colin Holderman continued his struggles on the mound. In 24 relief outings with Pittsburgh, Holderman had a 7.01 ERA.
Carmen Mlodzinski started the season in the rotation, and scuffled with a 4.99 ERA. Once Mlodzinski was inserted back to the bullpen, he was a lot better; pitching to an ERA of 2.15.
The bullpen also got a shot in the arm from an unexpected performer in Isaac Mattson. The 30-year-old righty registered a 2.45 ERA in 44 appearances. By the end of the year, Mattson was being used in the setup role and high leverage situations in general.
Offensive rankings
.231 batting average (28th)
.655 OPS (30th)
117 home runs (30th)
583 runs scored (30th)
Pitching rankings
3.67 ERA (7th)
1.22 WHIP (tied 4th)
.236 opp avg (8th)
645 runs allowed (5th)
Marc-Andre Fleury Night Made for Playoff Type Atmosphere
p/c: Michelle Crechiolo
Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena was eight years in the making for Marc-Andre Fleury.
After being left unprotected by the Pittsburgh Penguins, for the Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion draft in 2017, Fleury played four seasons in Vegas, before spending his last five with the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild.
On September 12th, it was announced that Fleury would retire as a member of the Penguins, but with a unique twist. He signed a professional tryout contract with Pittsburgh, in which he would attend one practice, as well as play in one preseason game.
A large capacity was on hand Saturday, to witness the future Hall of Fame goaltender in net one final time.
Taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pens top goalie prospect, Sergei Murashov, was solid during his two periods, allowing just one goal.
Fleury, who is 19 years older than Murashov, entered in the third period. The man affectionately nicknamed “Flower” received a warm, standing ovation from the Penguins faithful.
While being a perfect 8-for-8 in saves, Fleury got loud round of applauses for pad saves and poke checks. The crowd delivered thunderous chants of “Fleury” and “One more year”.
Aside from Fleury recording a scoreless third period, perhaps there was nothing more fitting on his special night than the first Penguins goal being scored by Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh would get two goals from Rickard Rakell, including an empty-netter, and one by top forward prospect, Ville Koivunen.
During the postgame, SportsNet Pittsburgh’s Dan Potash interviewed an emotional and teary-eyed Fleury, who thanked the fans, because of what they have meant to him.
In the final paragraph of Marc-Andre Fleury’s storybook career, it was the perfect send off, for one of the classiest athletes in Pittsburgh sports history.
Examining Mitch Keller’s Complicated Trade Value In the Offseason
p/c: Phillip G. Pavely
Mitch Keller concluded his 2025 season on Friday night. Facing the Atlanta Braves, he lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing one run, while walking a season-high five.
In 32 starts, Keller finishes the year with a 4.19 ERA. It marks his third consecutive season of at least 30 starts.
Keller entered July as one of the more intriguing trade candidates among starting pitchers.
Despite being intra divisional, the Chicago Cubs were reportedly expressing interest in the Pirates veteran right-hander. Rumors had circulated of Pittsburgh wanting Cubs top prospect, Owen Caissie, to headline the deal.
Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Baltimore Orioles had the most interest in Keller, and the two sides discussed a trade leading into the final days of the deadline.
As it turned out, Keller stayed put. As mentioned, he has three consecutive seasons of 30 or more starts. However, this is also three straight years, in which he has struggled in the second half.
Here are the first half and second half comparisons for Keller over the last the seasons.
2023 first half: 3.31 ERA, 1.12 WHIP
2023 second half: 5.59 ERA, 1.44 WHIP
2024 first half: 3.08 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
2024 second half: 5.46 ERA, 1.44 WHIP
2025 first half: 4.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
2025 second half: 4.56 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
Keller still has three years remaining on his current deal at around $55.7 million. He’ll be owed $16.9 million in 2026.
Based on the escalating figures, it would seem like a strong possibility that Pittsburgh would move Keller this offseason.
The Pirates needing to add offense will be the worst kept secret of the entire upcoming MLB offseason. So would a Keller trade help them achieve that?
A significant package, for the Bucs to obtain with Keller, feels like a slippery slope. How many contenders are going to give up a haul, at that price, to acquire a pitcher who is nothing more than above average?
When the Pirates sold at the deadline, they dumped several contracts, including the Ke’Bryan Hayes extension, which although was team-friendly, does free up cash, in order to address a much more pressing need.
Some believe Pittsburgh should look to make Keller expendable anyway, for the amount of rotation depth on the big club behind Paul Skenes, with Bubba Chandler, Johan Oviedo, Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows, and Hunter Barco.
This offseason will be a “see it to believe it”, as to what level the Pirates’ organization is willing to go to spend on quality hitters, given the saved cash they could look to effectively allocate. Should the team decide to dump Keller’s money, then perhaps they settle on a decent trade return, if it means the ability to spend more on high-profile type bats for the 2026 lineup.
Lack of Utilization for Roman Wilson In Steelers’ Offense Remains Baffling
p/c: Phelan M. Ebenhack
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have been no strangers to identifying wide receivers, in later rounds of the draft. The two most notable were Hines Ward and Antonio Brown. Ward was a third round selection in 1998, while Brown wasn’t taken until the sixth round in 2010.
During the 2024 draft, the Steelers selected wideout Roman Wilson in Round 3. For most, it was regarded as a solid, mid-round pick, given Wilson’s production at Michigan, and playing a key role on their National Championship team in 2023.
The beginning of Wilson’s NFL career got off to an inauspicious start last year, as an ankle injury sidelined him during training camp and the preseason.
Wilson made his Steelers debut in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders; albeit with five offensive snaps.
Looking to get his feet wet, Wilson suffered a season-ending, hamstring injury on October 28th.
The 24-year-old Wilson entered camp this year fully healthy, and had a good preseason showing.
While much has been made of Pittsburgh’s inconsistent, offensive line, which certainly deserves criticism, the use of Wilson early on in the season is mind-boggling, to say the least.
Wilson has one reception for seven yards through the first three games. He’s been targeted just two times, while getting offensive snaps at a meager 24%.
Once the Steelers traded George Pickens in the offseason to the Dallas Cowboys, many assumed they would go out and find a viable replacement for him. But much like the offseason prior, in which they had no contingency plan, after moving Diontae Johnson, GM Omar Khan once again sat on his hands.
When Pittsburgh acquired Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins, as part of the Minkah Fitzpatrick deal, it was thought of that he could an impact tight end, who could essentially be their WR2.
It’s unclear, and quite frankly bewildering, as to why the Steelers aren’t utilizing Wilson much on offense. The only explanation would be Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith wanting to get Wilson slowly acclimated to the offense, following his injuries last season, but even then, he’s back to 100% healthy, and shouldn’t be under much restrictions, if at all.
For a Steelers offense that needs any type of spark, the decision to really limit Wilson, in the offensive game plan, is one of the most confounding things with this team currently.
Aaron Donald to Have Jersey Number Retired By Pitt
The Pittsburgh Panthers will be honoring one of its all-time great defensive players, as the school is set to retire the uniform 97 number of Aaron Donald.
Donald’s jersey retirement ceremony is November 15th at Acrisure Stadium, when the Panthers host Notre Dame.
During his four years at Pitt, Donald registered a total of 29.5 sacks. As a senior in 2013, he recorded 11 sacks, an ACC best four forced fumbles, 29 tackles for loss, and was a unanimous All-American selection.
Donald was taken in the first round (13th overall) by the Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft.
In 10 years in the league, Donald was a Pro Bowl selection in every season, including eight times as an All-Pro. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2020, while becoming a Super Bowl champion with the 2021 Rams.
Among all-time, defensive linemen, Donald has the 17th most career sacks at 111, and has the fourth most among players of the 21st century.
Is Kaleb Johnson Already Falling Out of Favor with Steelers?
p/c: Gene J. Puskar
During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to address running back, after cutting ties with Najee Harris. In Round 3, they selected University of Iowa standout, Kaleb Johnson.
The selection of Johnson was given positive remarks, with some even going as far to say it was one of the best mid-round steals of the draft. He rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns, as a junior last season, while being named Big 10 Running Back of the Year.
This past offseason, I listed Johnson as one of five Steelers X-Factors for this year, because of his profile coming out of Iowa, as well as needing to compliment Jaylen Warren.
Johnson was impressive in both rookie minicamp and training camp. However, the preseason was a different story, as he struggled to find consistency, while not being able to hit the holes aggressively enough.
The lackluster preseason showing resulted in Johnson being placed third on Pittsburgh’s RB depth chart, behind Kenneth Gainwell, who was signed as a free agent during the offseason.
Mike Tomlin gave Johnson an opportunity as the team’s kickoff returner to begin the season.
Although the Steelers defeated the Jets in Week 1, 34-32, Johnson nearly lost a fumble on a kickoff.
Week 2 was a moment Johnson would like to permanently erase from his football career, as he let a live ball on a kickoff roll into the end zone - only for the Seahawks to recover it for a score. For Steelers fans, it was shades of Barry Foster in 1990. The boneheaded mistake by Johnson was the turning point of the game, in Pittsburgh’s 31-17 loss.
Johnson would be removed from kickoff duties - Tomlin saying during his press conference earlier this week.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that the Steelers elevated RB Trey Sermon from the practice squad. The move would likely mean Johnson being inactive as a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game in Foxboro against the New England Patriots.
Just a few weeks into the season, is Johnson already beginning to fall out of favor with the organization?
Personally, it would be foolish to think that Tomlin views Johnson as an afterthought this early, especially given how much the Steelers head coach praised Johnson’s skill set and potential in camp. That being said though, Johnson will have to do quite a lot, in order to get himself back in Tomlin’s good graces.
No More Excuses for Kyle Dubas as Penguins Top Executive
p/c: Chaz Palla - TribLive
In the summer of 2023, the Pittsburgh Penguins surprised the NHL landscape by hiring former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager, Kyle Dubas, to be their president of hockey operations.
The Fenway Sports Group felt obligated to give Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang one last run at a Stanley Cup, and encouraged Dubas to make the trade for star defenseman Erik Karlsson.
Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as planned during Dubas’ first two years in Pittsburgh, which includes a losing season in 2024-25; their first since Crosby’s rookie campaign (2005-06).
While the Karlsson trade has been met with mixed reviews among Penguins’ fans, the two most questionable moves under Dubas are the signings of Tristan Jarry and Ryan Graves. Jarry has struggled in net, and was demoted twice to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season. Meanwhile, Graves has been objectively one of the worst defensemen in the league since arriving to the Pens.
On April 28th, the Penguins and head coach Mike Sullivan decided to mutually part ways. Without an official reason given, it seemed clear that Dubas and Sullivan weren’t getting on the same page, in regards to the direction of the team.
Dubas hired Dan Muse to be the Penguins new head coach on June 4th. Muse spent last season as an assistant coach of the New York Rangers, but has an extensive track record in youth development; training the likes of Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty, and current Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley.
For Dubas, there’s simply no more excuses. He has a new coach in place, who sees his vision of wanting to make the team younger. Also, Dubas is obtaining prospects by selling off veteran pieces, and is putting more emphasis on the draft. Pittsburgh had 13 picks this year; three of which in the first round.
Much speculation this offseason was that the Pens were likely to move Rickard Rakell and/or Bryan Rust. Neither Rakell or Rust were dealt, so when the time comes to trade either, or both, Dubas better hit big on those deals.
Although it’s a transitional period for the Penguins, Dubas will need to get this team in the right direction sooner rather than later.
Another interesting, and potentially significant wrinkle, is the pending sale of the franchise by Fenway Sports Group to David Hoffmann - the founder and chairman of The Hoffmann Family of Companies.
FSG made the hiring of Dubas, so if new ownership comes into place, then perhaps it’s a shorter leash for Dubas’ time with the Penguins.
Steelers Sign Ja’Whaun Bentley to Practice Squad
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran inside linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to the practice squad.
Multiple reports came out Tuesday that Bentley was in Pittsburgh for a free agent visit.
Bentley was a fifth round draft selection by the New England Patriots in 2018 out of Purdue.
From 2021-2023, Bentley recorded three consecutive seasons of at least 100 combined tackles. During the 2023 season, he registered a career-high 4.5 sacks.
In Week 2 of 2024, Bentley’s season came to an abrupt end, as he suffered a season-ending, pectoral injury.
On March 28th, the Patriots released Bentley from his two-year contract extension.
The Steelers’ run defense has become a major weakness over the last couple years, and that trend has continued the first two weeks of the season; allowing the fifth most rushing yards in the league. The addition of Bentley, who has a track record as a reliable run stopper, will help plug some holes, to limit big yards on the ground.
Should Konnor Griffin Be the Pirates Opening Day Shortstop In 2026?
p/c: Harrison Barden
Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Pirates secured their seventh straight losing season; sixth under general manager Ben Cherington.
Heading into the offseason, there will be plenty of questions on how to substantially improve the offense. Does that mean actually spending money to bring in quality veteran bats, trading Mitch Keller for offensive pieces, or both?
Currently, the Pirates have the worst team OPS in MLB at .655. Bryan Reynolds has been inconsistent for much of the year, while Oneil Cruz, who had a solid, first half, has hit only four home runs since July 1st.
Down on the Pirates’ farm, Konnor Griffin has been the talk of the minor league baseball scene. Selected by Pittsburgh ninth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Griffin’s first season of professional ball this year is simply incredible.
Playing across three levels, with Low A Bradenton, High A Greensboro, and AA Altoona, Griffin has combined to slash .333/.416/.531, along with 21 homers, 94 RBI, and a whopping, 65 stolen bases.
During All-Star Weekend in Atlanta, Griffin represented the Pirates in the 2025 Futures Game.
The all-around talents of Griffin have been so undeniable that in just one year into his pro career, he’s the #1 prospect in the minors, according to both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
For most of this season, Isiah Kiner-Falefa had been the Pirates primary shortstop. He underperformed offensively; posting a .632 OPS in 428 plate appearances. IKF is now with the Toronto Blue Jays - the team who dealt him to Pittsburgh at last year’s trade deadline.
Jared Triolo is being tasked with the shortstop duties for the Pirates. Objectively, Triolo has hit well since early August, to go along with his steady defense.
Given the team’s several holes to fill on the offensive front, would the organization actually entertain the idea of having Griffin compete for a spot on the 2026 Opening Day roster?
On the surface, it seems like a lot, to put on the plate of a 19-year-old, but at the same time, Griffin is arguably the most elite shortstop in all of MiLB right now.
Whether Super 2 factors into such a decision, it’s more likely the Pirates want Griffin to continue his development by starting out at AAA Indianapolis next season, and possibly have Triolo as the placeholder at shortstop until Griffin’s eventual arrival to the bigs.
However, there’s the other side of it - should Griffin have a strong and mature approach at the plate, and is able to check boxes in spring training, such as terrific, base running and reliable defense, then perhaps it’s a situation, in which Griffin forces management’s hand to put him at short on Opening Day.
Penguins’ Biggest X-Factor: Anthony Mantha
Following much speculation of the Pittsburgh Penguins possibly moving Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson this offseason, all three are still with the team, with less than two weeks before the start of preseason.As expected by most, Penguins’ president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, didn’t make any aggressive moves in the offseason. Instead, opting to sign a few veterans on team-friendly deals. One of those veterans was right winger Anthony Mantha.
On July 2nd, the Penguins and Mantha agreed to terms on a one-year contract for $2.5 million, which includes another $2 million in performance bonuses.
Mantha spent the first six seasons of his NHL career playing for the Detroit Red Wings. He tallied 24 goals with them in 2017-18, and had 25 goals in 2018-19.
Combined with the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24, Mantha put up 23 goals.
Last offseason, the 30-year-old forward inked a one-year deal worth $3.5 million with the Calgary Flames.
Unfortunately, Mantha’s tenure for Calgary would be short-lived, as he suffered an ACL injury on November 5th. A week later, the Flames announced that Mantha underwent season-ending surgery.
In my opinion, Mantha will be the biggest X-Factor for the Penguins this season. Although Mantha is capable of being a 20-goal scorer, he is returning from a serious injury, so there could be an adjustment period early on in the season.
Assuming Mantha returns to full health, and performs at his usual level, as a third line contributor, then perhaps the Pens could use him as a trade piece at the deadline, to get back a decent prospect, if they were to fall out of playoff contention.
Steelers to Sign Jabrill Peppers
p/c: Mark J. Rebilas
According to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign veteran safety Jabrill Peppers.
During the 2017 NFL Draft, Peppers was a first round selection (25th overall) of the Cleveland Browns.
In March of 2019, the Browns sent Peppers to the New York Giants, as part of the Odell Beckham trade.
Peppers would sign a three-year extension for $24 million with the New England Patriots.
Unfortunately for Peppers, he was limited to just six games last season for New England, after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list; stemming from an arrest for domestic violence and cocaine possession.
Despite playing a key role in the Patriots’ secondary, Peppers was a surprising cut on August 29th.
Steelers strong safety DeShon Elliott sustained a knee injury, in Pittsburgh’s win on Sunday against the New York Jets. The expected signing of Peppers would appear to indicate that Elliott will be out for some time.
Steelers Linked to Tyreek Hill?
p/c: Sam Navarro
Following a 33-8 thumping to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Miami Dolphins appear to be headed for a transition period. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Dolphins could move on from Tyreek Hill, with Florio linking the Pittsburgh Steelers as a possible suitor.
The eight-time Pro Bowl receiver is entering his fourth season with Miami. During the season opener versus the Colts, Hill had four catches for 40 yards.
This past offseason, the Steelers made their biggest blockbuster trade in franchise history; acquiring DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, and then extending him on a five-year contract worth $150 million.
Outside of Metcalf, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a bonafide, WR2 on their depth chart, so potentially adding Hill would make for an outstanding, 1A-1B tandem.
Hill is owed $28.65 million this season, and is under contract thru 2026, for a salary of $36 million.
Florio also mentioned the Kansas City Chiefs as a possibility for Hill’s services. Hill played for the Chiefs from 2016-2021, where he won a Super Bowl with KC in 2019.
Skylar Thompson Expected to Make Steelers’ Roster
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette appeared on Monday’s WDVE Morning Show, and mentioned that quarterback Skylar Thompson is expected to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster. Dulac also said that rookie Will Howard is likely to be put on season-ending injured reserve.
Thompson was signed by the Steelers to a futures contract on January 14th.
In parts of two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Thompson played just a total of 11 games, including a start in the 2022 Wild Card Game, where despite a subpar performance, nearly upset the Buffalo Bills.
With Howard sustaining a hand injury in practice, Thompson was able to seize the opportunity, with a great preseason showing, as he threw for 498 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
It appears the Steelers are going to open the season with three quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers will be Pittsburgh’s sixth different starting QB since Ben Roethlisberger retired, while Mason Rudolph returned to the Black & Gold on a two-year deal this past offseason. Rudolph is projected to be the backup to Rodgers, although some feel that Thompson’s preseason should make him the QB2.
What Is a Realistic Expectation Level for Eli Holstein In 2025?
p/c: Gareth Patterson
Later this month, the Pittsburgh Panthers will be kicking off the 2025 college football season on August 30th against the Duquesne Dukes at Acrisure Stadium. It’s the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron since 1939.
Eli Holstein enters this season as the Panthers starting quarterback as a redshirt sophomore. Last year, Holstein opened some eyes as one of the most impressive freshmen quarterbacks during the first half. However, the play from Holstein in the second half of the season wasn’t as efficient, and on top of that, he suffered a season-ending, ankle injury.
So what realistically can be the expectations for Holstein in 2025?
For Holstein, it’s another year in Kade Bell’s uptempo style offense, with a lot of returning starters, including receivers Kenny Johnson, CJ Lee, and Raphael Williams, tight end Jake Overman, and dynamic, tailback Desmond Reid.
A couple of transfers were added to the offensive line in Jeff Persi from Michigan and Kendall Staley from Charlotte. In an interview I did a month ago with Pitt football beat writer, Amanda Godsey, she mentioned that returning starters BJ Williams and Ryan Baer lost some weight during the offseason, in an effort to move around better in Bell’s offensive scheme,
At 6’4, 225, Holstein moves around well, and can run with the ball, if nothing is available down field. He has a strong arm, along with great acceleration on throws. The one knock on Holstein is his pocket awareness.
Pitt’s offense this season has a chance to be exciting again, given the amount of talent who’ll be returning. If Holstein can improve his presence in the pocket, with even more experience, and more importantly stay healthy, then he could be a Top 1-2 quarterback in the ACC this year, as well as possibly being a Top 10 QB in the nation.
Pirates to Activate Johan Oviedo on Monday
p/c: Chaz Palla - Pittsburgh TribLive
The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to activate right-hander Johan Oviedo from the injured list to make his 2025 season debut against the San Francisco Giants on Monday at PNC Park, this according to Noah Hiles of the Post-Gazette.
Left-hander Bailey Falter had been slated to pitch Monday’s game for the Pirates, but he was dealt to the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline.
For Oviedo, he was originally suppose to start for AAA Indianapolis on Sunday, but given the Falter trade, it opened up a spot in the Pirates’ rotation.
Oviedo missed the entirety of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Before the injury, he posted a 4.31 ERA and had a 2.2 bWAR in 32 starts for Pittsburgh during the 2023 season.
In the early portion of spring training, Oviedo sustained a significant lat muscle strain, while throwing live BP, and had to be placed on the 60-day IL to begin the year.
Oviedo made five starts beginning in early July. His latest start was July 29th for Indianapolis, where he pitched five innings of one run ball versus the Iowa Cubs. Oviedo’s fastball velocity looked strong in that outing, as he sat 95-96 mph.
Embarrassing Trade Deadline a Microcosm for Pirates’ Lack of Direction
The 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline came and went on Thursday. And for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it was lackluster, to say the least.Aside from the Adam Frazier trade a couple weeks ago, the Pirates dealt five players, including Ke’Bryan Hayes, Caleb Ferguson, David Bednar, Taylor Rogers, and Bailey Falter.
General manager Ben Cherington received a total of seven prospects. However, six of them are still years away at the A ball level. The only upper level prospect Cherington obtained was Rafael Flores, a catcher/first baseman in the Bednar deal, who was the New York Yankees eighth ranked prospect.
Despite Ke’Bryan Hayes’ offensive shortcomings, he was playing a perennial, Gold Glove caliber defense at third base, and had plenty of control, on a team-friendly extension. There really wasn’t a rush to move Hayes, especially when there isn’t a clear cut option waiting in the wings.
While it’s not much of a surprise Bednar was traded, because of pay escalation this offseason, it was the makings of a disappointing return. Objectively, Flores is a good prospect, but he should not have been the headliner in the deal. The other players, Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez, feel like lottery ticket prospects.
Rogers, acquired as part of the Hayes trade from the Cincinnati Reds, was flipped to the Chicago Cubs for a fringe, outfield prospect in Ivan Brethowr.
Perhaps the most confounding move for the Pirates at the deadline was the decision to part ways with Bailey Falter. Owed just $2.2 million, along with three more years of club control beyond this season, Falter was dealt to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for left-handed reliever Evan Sisk and first baseman Callen Moss. For Moss, he wasn’t even ranked on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Royals prospects list.
In regards to trading Falter, a team source had informed the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles that the motivation behind moving Falter is because he was being viewed as a non-tender candidate. Given Falter’s 3.73 ERA so far in 2025, it’s simply an asinine reason.
For as pathetic as last offseason was, in an effort to significantly improve the offense, this trade deadline was just as embarrassing - making it not only the worst of any team, but by far the worst of Cherington’s tenure in Pittsburgh.
If this had been the first or second year of a full rebuild, then these types of moves would be fine, as the goal would be to stockpile the farm system. But Cherington is in his sixth year as Pirates GM, and there’s even more questions now than answers.
With the amount of trades made, they have a good amount of cash to spend this offseason to address the offense. That being said, there’s been no concrete evidence to suggest that the Pirates are capable of effectively allocating their funds, for the good of the on field product.
From top to bottom, it’s a franchise in shambles. Whether it’s the super negative vibe surrounding owner Bob Nutting, team president Travis Williams assuring the fanbase that the food concessions, particularly their soft pretzels remain top notch, or Ben Cherington’s incompetence to giving the team no real sense of direction. For Pirates’ fans, there’s the desperate need to search for light at the end of the tunnel, but when it comes to this organization, that tunnel is being blocked off by a brick wall.
Breakdown of the Adam Frazier/Cam Devanney Trade Swap
Not even 24 hours after the MLB All-Star Game, the Pittsburgh Pirates made their first notable move of the trade season - dealing veteran utility man Adam Frazier to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for infielder Cam Devanney. The trade was first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided.
This marks the second time Frazier has been traded by the Pirates, as he was dealt by the Bucs to the San Diego Padres at the 2021 trade deadline for Jack Suwinski.
The 33-year-old Frazier had signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh last offseason at $1.5 million. In 78 games this season, he slashed .255/.318/.336.
Devanney was a 15th round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2019 draft out of Elon University.
In December of 2023, the Brewers traded Devanney to the Royals, as part of a three-player deal.
Following a productive 2024 campaign playing at AAA Omaha (.781 OPS and 19 HR), Devanney has been even this year with Omaha; posting a .931 OPS with 18 HR.
Given that both Frazier and Devanney were on their respective 40-man rosters, no corresponding move needs to be made.
Assessment: Frazier played on the Royals’ 24 postseason team last year. He’ll get to reunite with a contender that is very much in the mix of a wide open American League wild card race. KC’s bench is mostly right-handed, so Frazier gives them a veteran lefty batter, who puts together competitive at-bats and doesn’t strike out much.
From the Pirates’ point of view, Devanney is a shortstop with offensive upside - something that is lacking at the position depth-wise. Defensively, he’s considered average at short.
Devanney was never going to receive the chance to be the Royals primary shortstop, since they obviously have Bobby Witt Jr. there for many years to come.
With the Bucs expected to move Isiah Kiner-Falefa before, or at the deadline, I would expect Devanney to get full run as the Pirates everyday shortstop.
A rental Adam Frazier wasn’t going to bring back much, which is better that the Pirates opted for an upper-minors player with some upside being blocked in another system, as opposed to an A ball “lottery ticket” that you cross your fingers on.
How Soon Could the Penguins Contend Under Dan Muse?
p/c: Giuseppe LoPiccolo - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
On April 28th, the Pittsburgh sports scene and general hockey landscape was abuzz, as it was announced that the Penguins and Mike Sullivan had mutually agreed to part ways.
Following 10 seasons, which included a pair of Stanley Cups, Sullivan’s style of coaching seemed to get stale after a while, with the team not winning a playoff series since 2018, as well as missing the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
Although there was no official reason, it appeared that Sullivan and Penguins’ president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, weren’t getting on the same page - regarding the direction of the team.
On June 4th, Dubas hired Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history. Perhaps more noteworthy is Muse possibly being the doppelgänger of Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster Joe Block.
The soon-to-be 43-year-old Muse has an extensive developmental background, including the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he helped trained the likes of Pittsburgh native and Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley, and Penguins top prospect Rutger McGroarty.
Muse’s coaching staff is now fully intact, with Todd Nelson, who was thought to be a strong candidate for the Penguins head coaching gig, former NHL forward Rich Clune, Mike Stothers, the return of goalie coach Andy Chiodo, and two-time Stanley Cup winner and Pens fan favorite Nick Bonino. For Bonino specifically, he mentioned to members of the Penguins’ media that he will be coaching the younger centers, in addition to helping out on the penalty kill.
When it comes to free agent additions, it’s not a surprise that Dubas has been playing it conservatively, despite the team’s breathing room in cap space. Muse’s first seasonin Pittsburgh is expected to be a transition.
To what degree of transition remains to be seen, as a lot will hinge on what type of offers Dubas receives this offseason for Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. Internally, there’s probably been discussion of wanting to get out from under Erik Karlsson’s large contract.
The biggest key for the Penguins under Dan Muse will be giving young players a legitimate opportunity, to claim roles on the roster. Top prospects Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty are the two noteworthy forwards - the latter likely getting a chance to play along with Sidney Crosby on the top line. Guys like Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke will be top-tier defensive prospects looking to make an impact on Pittsburgh’s blue line.
In all likelihood, it should take the Penguins about four years to truly compete again. The first couple seasons for Muse will be a transition period. By the third season, the team could start to see their young core of talent starting to come together as a cohesive unit. Going into Year 4 should be when Dubas is able to spend plenty on the free agent market, and surround the players entering their primes, with quality, veteran compliments. At that point, it should be where the Pens become legit players again in the Eastern Conference, as opposed to a team that’s just “good enough”, and barely sneaks into the playoffs - only to get bounced in the first round.
Pitt Football Interview with Amanda Godsey
With the Pittsburgh Panthers kicking off their season against the Duquesne Dukes on August 30th at Acrisure Stadium, I had the opportunity to talk all things Pitt football with Amanda Godsey, who covers the team for the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat.
Shetler: In his first year as Pitt offensive coordinator last season, how would you assess Kade Bell’s offensive approach?
Godsey: I like what Kade Bell wants to do on offense. He wants to go up-tempo because it doesn’t allow defenses to substitute and it simplifies the offense for his players, in a way. He gives his QBs the freedom to tuck the ball and run if there’s nothing open. I thought the offense had some nice showings early in the season last year. For the offense to truly work the way it’s intended, the offensive line has to be better. It was tough last year because the offensive linemen on the roster were recruited for Frank Cignetti’s pro-style offense; Bell’s offense relies on athletic and fast guys who happen to be big playing offensive line. They’ve added some transfers that better fit that mold while guys like Ryan Baer and BJ Williams have lost some weight during the offseason to better fit the scheme as well.
I don’t think we’ve seen all of Bell’s offense yet and believe we’ll see more of it this fall.
Shetler: What does Eli Holstein need to do to be an even better quarterback in 2025?
Godsey: Trust his receivers and trust his ankle. Eli’s legs are what make him dynamic, so we’ll see how he recovers from off-season ankle surgery. He didn’t look entirely comfortable with it this spring even in his dropbacks, but by the time Pitt’s training camp begins, he’ll have had another 3 1/2 months since spring ball ended to recover.
He talked last year about maybe not trusting his receivers enough, particularly early in games early in the season. I expect him to get better this season after playing in Bell’s system for a year and just getting some college football game experience, which he didn’t have prior to last season.
Shetler: Which three players impressed you the most during Pitt spring ball?
Godsey: QB Mason Heintschel, LB Jeremiah Marcelin, CB Shadarian Harrison.
Heintschel seemed to take to the offense quickly. Marcelin is looking to compete with Braylan Lovelace for the starting middle linebacker job. Harrison took advantage of getting more reps due to transfers and injury.
Heard rave reviews from multiple members of the coaching staff about all three guys and what I saw of them impressed me.
Shetler: Who on the Panthers’ defense could you see taking a huge step forward, like Kyle Louis did a year ago?
Godsey: Cruce Brookins. He’ll be a starter at safety this year and he possesses pretty solid ball skills that should lead to interceptions. He’s already proven to be a good tackler, albeit in limited defensive snaps last season.
Shetler: What position of depth do you think is the biggest strength and the biggest weakness for Pitt entering this season?
Godsey: Linebacker is the best unit. Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles showed the type of playmakers they are last season. Braylan Lovelace and Jeremiah Marcelin should both see some playing time at mike linebacker. Cam Lindsey also had a really nice spring and should be Louis’ backup at star linebacker.
Biggest weakness is probably the offensive line. The O-line was a problem last year. The coaching staff attacked OL hard in the portal and snagged a couple of tackles and a guard who look like better fits for Kade Bell’s offense, but until we see them play an actual game, it’s tough to say anything other than offensive line is the weakest position.
Shetler: Which opponents on the 2025 Pitt schedule could potentially be the hardest?
Godsey: Notre Dame, Miami, and Louisville are the toughest games on paper right now. Pitt gets all three at home but that doesn’t make it a whole lot easier. Louisville’s offense will likely be tough again. Notre Dame and Miami are two of their final three games of the season. The Irish are absolutely loaded coming into this year and should have one of the top defenses in college football. Miami is also loaded across the board. A lot hinges on the QBs for both the Irish and Hurricanes, but both squads have a lot of talent in the trenches, giving them an advantage over Pitt.
Shetler: Based on the second half collapse last season, if the Panthers were to take another step back this year, do you feel Pat Narduzzi should be on the hot seat?
Godsey: I think it depends on what qualifies as “another step back”—and I still think firing Narduzzi after the 2025 season is not likely to happen. He’s under contract through 2030 and makes around $7 million a year. I don’t think Pitt will want to be on the hook for an eight-figure buyout and also have to pay another coach on top of it.
Bryan Reynolds Reportedly Has No-Trade Clause with Six Playoff Teams
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles reported that Bryan Reynolds has a no-trade clause with six playoff teams. Those clubs include the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants.
Reynolds is in his seventh season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The switch-hitting outfielder has been struggling for much of 2025, with an OPS of .674 in 367 plate appearances.
The Pirates signed Reynolds in April of 2023, to an eight-year extension worth $106.75 million.
With the Bucs in obvious seller mode, it’s natural to think that Reynolds would be a trade candidate. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently mentioned the Kansas City Royals having interest in the two-time All-Star.
In regards to the no-trade clause, it’s doesn’t seem like a coincidence that the teams exempt are locations with bigger tax rates.
The current trade value for Reynolds is tricky. While he does provide plenty of club control beyond this season - five years in fact - the offensive numbers are subpar this year. In addition, Reynolds has been a below average defender in the outfield for quite some time, and is on the other side of 30.