DETROIT -- Felipe Rivero swore he'd never fall in love with a team again. He did so with the Nationals, only to be traded to the Pirates for Mark Melancon before completing his second full season in the major leagues. But the 26-year-old closer found it difficult to not get attached upon arriving in Pittsburgh.
In fact, watching two of his teammates depart this offseason — Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole — motivated Rivero to sign a guaranteed four-year contract extension instead of potential annual raises through arbitration. Rivero saw the impact losing both players had on the organization, and he opted for stability for a variety of reasons, including a potential trade.
"I thought they were going to be here with me and then they were gone, so, I think that was a sign for me to try to be here for my teammates," he explained. "If I only signed a one-year deal [through arbitration] it was going to be the same thing, so I decided to stay here for a few years. I feel comfortable.
"We have a lot of good guys here. We are like a family in here."
Rivero, who had a 0.88 WHIP with 20 saves in 75.1 innings last season, signed a $22 million, four-year extension three days after McCutchen was traded to the Giants for Kyle Crick and Bryan Reynolds.
Neal Huntington called Rivero in the aftermath of both trades, describing a process of "rebuilding," and explained how the front office wanted Rivero to help return the club to the playoffs. That conversation came after Rivero expressed disbelief on social media over the franchise's decision to trade two of its pillars. However, he wanted to be one of the faces of the franchise with both players gone.
Now, he's trying to establish himself as a leader in the clubhouse and wants to be part of the solution.
"We’re going to get it together doing the stuff we’re doing," Rivero said. "We're having fun. We have more music in the clubhouse. They’re playing dominoes just to get together. That’s what we needed, though. All the guys, it doesn't matter their background. The American guys are playing dominoes with the Latin guys. That’s what we needed. To be more together as a group."
MORE PIRATES
• Huntington was infuriated that outfielder Bryce Brentz found out through social media that he had been placed on outright waivers. Brentz, who was claimed by the Mets, wasn't exactly happy with the situation on a number of levels. For one, he didn't understand the logic behind such a move since the Pirates have a need for a power-hitting threat on the bench, plus his overall numbers weren't bad considering the shoulder injury he suffered in camp. He also didn't understand why the club didn't give him a heads-up about the decision, although the Pirates aren't required to do so. — Lysowski
• Several players I spoke with expressed excitement about Colin Moran's potential, including Jameson Taillon. This wasn't a teammate patting another on the back, either. This was the Pirates' top starter giving an honest opinion on a player. "That dude is going to rake this year. Seriously. He does things at the plate that make you go, 'Wow.'" — Lysowski
• This isn't exactly baseball news, but Trevor Williams spent the past eight weeks taking an advanced Spanish class online to complete his bachelor's degree. He completed the course last weekend and will pick up his diploma from Arizona State when the Pirates play a three-game series against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. — Lysowski
PENGUINS
• Since being sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on March 19, Tristan Jarry hasn’t exactly wowed the organization with his play. Jarry is just 1-1-2 and has given up 16 goals in his four games. There was speculation he may not make the trip to Hartford for tomorrow night’s game. Barring something unforeseen, it looks like Casey DeSmith might just be the winner in the Matt Murray back-up sweepstakes. — Chris Bradford in Newark, N.J.
• Obviously the organization is quite pleased with its return in the Josh Jooris-for-Greg McKegg trade. In his brief stints in Pittsburgh, including last night’s game against the Devils, Jooris has shown himself to be a quite capable bottom-six forward at the NHL level. But McKegg, who started the season in Pittsburgh, is finding more success in the AHL in the Carolina organization than he ever did with Wilkes-Barre. Since being dealt McKegg is a point-per-game producer with 13 points (five goals and eight assists) in 11 games. In 28 games with Wilkes-Barre, he had just 12 points (five goals and seven assists). His previous AHL best was 39 points in 62 games with the Toronto Marlies in 2014-15. — Bradford
• Despite the Penguins’ inconsistencies, no one in uniform would say that they’re struggling. One player told me that Sullivan has been remarkably composed throughout. Hasn’t blown his lid, no bag skate or anything like that. All you need to know is that the Penguins didn’t even take the ice Wednesday despite a humiliating loss a night earlier vs. Detroit. Instead, the Penguins opted to hold a video session. Sullivan has a far greater grasp of his team and what it needs more than you or I might think. — Bradford
STEELERS
• One of the long-held thoughts on the Steelers under Mike Tomlin's guidance has been they only take guys in the first round of the draft who come from the so-called Power 5 conferences -- SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12 and Big 12. And thus far in Tomlin's 11-year tenure, that has been the case. But it hasn't been by design. "It must be purely coincidence because I was not aware of that until you mentioned it," Tomlin said this week at the NFL meetings. "We respect everybody in this process and we really try hard to work hard to stack the board in terms of quality of players. And where they play is less important than the quality of player." Tomlin did admit, however, when scouting players from non-Power 5 conferences, he looks more closely at their games played against those larger schools. — Dale Lolley in Orlando
• Speaking of the draft, you see a lot of things all over the Internet when Tomlin and/or Kevin Colbert take a prospect to dinner. It's something they do at every school they visit. And often, it's not just one player at a time. For example, Tomlin said he took "seven or eight guys" out as a group recently on a visit to Alabama. The goal of those dinners is to get the prospect to relax a little bit so they can learn more about him in an off-field setting. The Steelers let the player or players pick the restaurant. Tomlin also told me he can learn a lot about a recruit and his background from what they consider fine dining experiences. Yes, he's had guys pick places such as TGI Friday's or Chili's. No, he hasn't had one pick McDonald's. Yet. — Lolley
• The Steelers aren't quite done in free agency. It seems they're still searching for a potential leader on special teams after jettisoning Mike Mitchell and Robert Golden two weeks ago. They brought in Matthew Slater and Michael Thomas, who both would have fit the bill before signing elsewhere, with Slater returning to the Patriots and Thomas signing with the Giants. That's why they're bringing in the Giants' Nat Berhe, as well. It's nice that he plays safety. But he's looked at as more of a replacement for Golden than he is anything else. That also tells me that maybe they're not quite as high on Tyler Matakevich as they were last summer when he was considered the top backup at both inside linebacker spots, something I just didn't see. A backup to Vince Williams, sure. But to Ryan Shazier? Nope. The fact they're looking for another special teams ace tells me the coaching staff isn't sure Matakevich can make the roster once another rookie inside linebacker or two are added. — Lolley
PITT
• Brandin Knight is a name many Pitt fans would love to see back at Petersen Events Center — some even threw his name out to be the new head coach — and Thursday, in an interview with 93.7 The Fan, new coach Jeff Capel confirmed he has reached out to Knight. After serving on Jamie Dixon’s staff with the Panthers, Knight returned to his home state to join Steve Pikiell’s staff at Rutgers when he was passed over for the top job in favor of Kevin Stallings. Whether he would be open to a return to Pitt is unknown. Apart from Knight and Duke assistant Nolan Smith, whom Capel said is staying in Durham, the new coach has thus far played his cards close to the vest in terms of prospective assistants. — Matt Grubba
• Pitt’s football practice Thursday was by far its most heavily attended of the spring, and not just because Capel was in the building. Coaches and players from a wide range of high schools — a quick scan showed Central Catholic, North Allegheny and Seton LaSalle among the strong Western Pa. schools represented — had the sideline packed with observers. Notable alums spotted around practice included Sam Clancy and Ron Idoko, both of whom now work in non-football roles at Pitt. Aaron Donald continues to be a regular, as the Rams’ All-Pro does his offseason training on the South Side with a handful of Pitt’s draft prospects and current pros after practices. — Grubba
• The Panthers won’t have another football practice until Tuesday, as Pat Narduzzi reverted to giving his players time off for Easter weekend. “They’ve got Good Friday and the weekend, like we did our first two years, but we weren’t able to do that last year because of scheduling problems. I’m happy our guys get a little time away here the next few days — not from class, though. They still have to go to class.” — Grubba
PENN STATE
• Saquon Barkley learning to say no was going to be one of his biggest challenges in the NFL. He’s used to pleasing people and wants to make everyone happy. That was evident during his time at Penn State and during his parade day in his hometown last weekend as he signed autographs while people ran up to the fancy Plymouth Prowler he was riding in during the parade. However, Barkley told me he is getting better at saying no. He even passed up an autograph signing event at the Super Bowl because it would interfere with his training and he told me if ever he gets overwhelmed he’s OK with cutting off other obligations. That’s always easier said than done, but it came off as very sincere. – Audrey Snyder in State College
• The development of Penn State’s offensive line is something that we often don’t get to see since many of the young linemen only work out in front of us during our brief practice availabilities. Still, Des Holmes and Alex Gellerstedt both repped at right and left tackle this week, giving a glimpse of the depth that’s expected to be getting built behind veteran tackles Will Fries and Ryan Bates. CJ Thorpe worked along the interior and this line could always use more nastiness, which is where Thorpe apparently thrives. – Snyder
• Expect the entertainment level to be through the roof when Barkley’s piece on NFL Films’ show ‘Hey Rookie’ debuts next month. While Barkley is slated to be the star of the show, don’t be surprised if charismatic safety Marcus Allen ends up being a popular figure throughout it. Allen, one of Barkley’s close friends, went with him to Orlando’s Gatorland to film a segment away from the field. If there’s anything I learned about Allen during the past four years it’s that he’d be a prime candidate for a reality TV show. I suspect he won’t disappoint when working in front of a camera crew. – Snyder
RIVERHOUNDS
• Ahead of Saturday’s home opener against Penn FC, the Riverhounds added a player and had another ruled out for the foreseeable future. Noah Franke, a fourth-round MLS SuperDraft pick out of Creighton released by FC Dallas, was signed Wednesday to a one-year deal as a defender/midfielder and becomes just the second rookie on the Hounds' roster, joining Thomas Vancaeyezeele. The Hounds will be without Ben Fitzpatrick indefinitely, as the reserve midfielder underwent sports hernia surgery this week. -- Grubba
