PNC Park will host Dave Matthews Band

The Pirates announced that the Dave Matthews Band is coming to Pittsburgh to perform a July 10 concert at PNC Park. This will be the fourth major concert, not including music acts following Pirates games, that PNC Park has hosted since opening in 2001. The band's tour, which begins at the end of May and runs through September, will make two other ballpark stops as well. The Dave Matthews Band will perform in New York's Citi Field on July 16 and 17 and at Nationals Park on July 23.

The Dave Matthews Band was nominated for two Grammy Awards -- "Album of the Year" and "Best Rock Album", and will perform live at the awards ceremony this Sunday. Billboard recently named the group as the top-selling touring artist of the decade.

Pirates term with Taschner to Minors deal

According to ESPN.com, the Pirates signed reliever Jack Taschner to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Wednesday. If he makes the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Taschner will earn $835,000, plus $465,000 in incentives based on appearances.

Taschner made 24 relief appearances for the Phillies this past season, posting a 4.91 ERA while striking out 19 batters and walking 20 in 29 1/3 innings in the phillies jersey. The left-hander also pitched in 20 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and posted a 2.08 ERA in 21 2/3 frames. Originally a second-round Draft pick by the Giants in 1999, Taschner spent his first four seasons in San Francisco.

Mets ink Dessens to Minors deal

The Associated Press reported that reliever Elmer Dessens will remain with the Mets since the right-hander agreed to a Minor League contract last week. This contract will pay him $700,000 if he is in the Majors and $90,000 if he is in the Minors3. He can also earn $150,000 in bonuses.

The veteran made 28 relief appearances with the Mets last season, posting a 3.31 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings in his mets jersey. In his career, Dessens has played with the Pirates, Reds, D-backs, Dodgers, Royals, Brewers, Rockies, Braves and Mets.

Royals signs Steve Lerud

It is reported that the Royals signed catcher Steve Lerud to a Minor League contract last week. Lerud has been in the Pirates since being taken in the fourth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. In six Minor League seasons, he has a .228 average with 42 home runs and 224 RBIs in 519 games.

Last season with Double-A Altoona, Lerud batted .240 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 95 games. He threw out 37 base-stealers with 15 passed balls and six errors. He is the second catcher from outside the organization signed by the Royals. The Royals also have signed catchers Vance Wilson and Cody Clark to Minor League deals. Hope to see him playing on the field in the royals jersey.

Williams was hired as Majors scout

The Pirates have hired Steve Williams to serve as a Major League scout for the team."Steve brings a wealth of baseball experience to the Pittsburgh Pirates," general manager Neal Huntington said in a release that announced the hiring. "We are pleased to add someone of his background, experience and abilities to an already talented group of individuals on the professional scouting staff."

Williams recently worked as an assistant director of scouting for the Royals. Before that, he spent nearly seven seasons serving as a regional scouting supervisor with the Tigers. Williams also spent 12 years working as an area scout for both Minnesota and Toronto. In addition, he has held the position of president of the Buck O'Neil Scouting and Coaches Association in the past six years.