PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates unveiled their 2026 promotional schedule for the upcoming season, highlighted by several theme weekends and bobblehead distributions.

The first weekend will be “Bucco Luau,’ featuring a custom-designed tiki mug and Hawaiian shirt promotions. That will be June 12-14 when the Marlins come to town. The team is introducing “County Weekend” for July 10-1 when the Brewers visit. There will be a cowboy hat giveaway and a kids bandana giveaway as well as country music-themed fireworks.

On July 24-26, the Pirates will host “Yinzerpalooza” with the Cubs in town in which everything unique about the city of Pittsburgh will be celebrated in and around PNC Park.

There will be a Paul Skenes bobblehead day and two other bobbleheads that have yet to be determined. The Skenes day will be April 18. The other two days are July 25 and Sept. 15. There are eight scheduled fireworks nights and five free t-shirt nights.

There are nine scheduled family fun days for Sunday home games as well as pup nights on Tuesdays where you can bring your dog to the game when the team is playing at home.

Fans can visit pirates.com/promotions for more information and buy tickets at pirates.com/tickets.

Royals get help

Outfielder Lane Thomas and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a $5.25 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Thomas can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses.

He had nine RBIs for Cleveland in the 2024 AL Division Series against Detroit but hit .160 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 125 at-bats over 39 games this year in an injury-decimated season with Cleveland. He batted .268 for Washington in 2023, when he set career bests with 28 homers, 86 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

Braves sign two

ATLANTA — Two-time All-Star reliever Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves agreed Thursday to a $45 million, three-year contract.

He gets a $13 million salary in 2026 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons. He learned about the Braves from Jurickson Profar and Ronald Acuna Jr.

He could be a setup man for closer Raisel Iglesias, who agreed last month to a $16 million, one-year contract and could become a free agent after the World Series.

The 34-year-old was 4-6 with 40 saves and a 2.97 ERA this year. He has 76 saves over the past two years and is 22-13 with a 2.91 ERA and 77 saves in four major league seasons, all with San Diego. He will donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

A day earlier, the Braves agreed to a $23 million, two-year contract with outfielder Mike Yastrzemski.

The 35-year-old hit .233 with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in 146 games last year for San Francisco and Kansas City. He could play in all three outfield positions and as a designated hitter.

Bullpen help for A’s

Free agent right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. has reached agreement on a $2.85 million, one-year contract with the Athletics, according to a person familiar with the deal.

Leiter, 34, is the latest pitcher to leave the Yankees after they declined to tender him a contract last month along with several other bullpen veterans. He spent parts of the past two seasons with New York, which acquired him at the trade deadline from the Cubs in 2024.

He went 6-7 with a 4.84 ERA and two saves over 11 outings and 48-plus innings this year.

Ex-Buc to Cleveland

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians added to their bullpen, signing right-hander Colin Holderman to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

The 30-year old Holderman spent the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, then became a free agent three weeks ago when the Pirates failed to offer a 2026 contract.

He was 0-2 with a 7.01 ERA in 24 appearances. He had two stints on the injured list due to a right knee sprain and right thumb inflammation. Holderman went 3-9 during the 2023 season.