Bob Nutting, the proprietor of Penny Pinching Pirates, faces backlash for not investing during the offseason.
“We discussed the actions that Pirates completely neglected during the offseason,” Kay stated. Yes, on national TV broadcasts The Yankees fell to the Pirates on Sunday, losing 5-4 after the second inning. “All the free agency contracts they made were merely a strategy to eliminate veterans and reshape the roster, so I examined this.”
Ex-Yankee Nova secured a three-year, $26 million deal with Pittsburgh, achieving a commendable performance with the Pirates, highlighted by a 3.06 ERA in his inaugural year with the franchise.
As per Spotrac, the Pirates have a salary commitment of $76.3 million for 2025, showcasing a roster filled with youthful talent, but as Kay emphasizes, they haven’t engaged in free agency for almost a decade.
“Their owner was present at the ballpark this weekend, and he’s envious every time he sees his face,” Kay remarked.
“We’ve already sensed the frustration among our fan base here in Pittsburgh, especially over the first couple of days,” responded broadcast colleague John Flaherty. “This is an incredible sports city with passionate fans, and they yearn for the Pirates to be competitive once more.”
“And you can’t argue that the city is too small,” Kay added. “The Steelers sell out all their games. The Penguins perform excellently as well. It’s similar to Cleveland. Cleveland places claims almost every year.”
Just like all baseball franchises, the Pirates receive a portion of revenues from local TV deals and national earnings. It’s estimated to be approximately $200 million per club..
Pittsburgh invests less than half of that, presenting a harsh truth for a legally young and promising Pirates team.
“What angers the fans the most is that they have the most exceptional pitcher in Paul Skenes, who just captivated the baseball universe. Yet, they did nothing to construct a competitive team around him.”
The Skenes are heading into their first full season with the Pirates after having struck out 170 batters over 133 innings last season, establishing themselves as the most thrilling pitcher in baseball.
It’s not solely about Pittsburgh’s Skenes. The Pirates also feature the league’s stealing leader, Oneil Cruz.
The Pirates stand at 3-7, tied for the last position in the NL Central, but they competed in an 11-inning game on Sunday.
