PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – New Pirates President Travis Williams and owner Bob Nutting addressed questions surrounding the team’s payroll Monday.
Williams says getting back to the post season is more than beefing up the payroll.
“We’re looking at broader than just payroll, in terms of the overall investment in baseball operations and we talked a lot about how those investments are made where they’re made are we getting effective return on those investments?” asked Williams.
Williams added it’s important they don’t waste the money they have.
“What ultimately is the right level of investment,” asked Williams. “There are teams that are doing it with the same type of payrolls the A’s, the Rays, the Indians other are doing it. Ultimately it’s on me, on us.”
Nutting says the organization needs to change the way they communicate with the media and fans and that the wrong impression is out there.
“I really do worry that we have incorrect narrative sitting out, surrounding payroll, surrounding profitability of the team that simply don’t reflect the current economic situation of baseball. We know it’s not an even playing field.”
Nutting adds they are committed to winning.
“How do we make sure we are committed to this organization I am committed as a steward of a longtime franchise with a proud history.”
Nutting points out that the organization needs to examine how they spend the money they do have.
“We’ve been third or fourth in total spending in Major League Baseball in our development system, are we getting the return do we have those dollars effectively,” said Nutting. “A few years before that we were out spending every other club in our draft . . . we have to think about whether we got a rational return.”
Listen to the conversation here.