PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s such a different feeling this year, after signing Konnor Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million contract Pirates owner Bob Nutting was signing autographs and interacting with fans Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.
It was Nutting, after years of staggering low payrolls, who allowed for the higher free agent spending and agreed to the trades to bring in more payroll. It was also Nutting who was pestering general manager Ben Cherington to get a deal done with Griffin. As he said not just talking contact, but finishing.
As he made remarks at a table in the press conference room inside the ball park with Griffin and Cherington, he didn’t shortchange what he thought about the historic deal.
"It's an important day for Pittsburgh,” Nutting said. “It's an important day for the Pirates and an important day for our future.”
Nutting said this reflects the ‘absolute urgency for 2026 to make this team better now’. There is a belief that Griffin can not only be a face of the franchise and help the team down the road, but right now.
“Konnor [being on the] team now makes a real difference in a year where we need to be better, are better and have full commitment into a team that's taken a long time to put the foundation in place,” Nutting said. “This is an important step for 2026 as we look at right now.”
As for long term, Nutting believes it shows where they are headed as an organization and with the money promised to Griffin, that shows right now and in 2034.
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“The commitment we have made as an organization to build a team, build an organization the right way,” Nutting said. “It takes a certain amount of patience. It's taken a certain amount of time. It will continue to take patience and time to put a team together that this city deserves, that these fans deserve. And I continue to be fully committed to making sure that happens again.”
“We're at a wonderful point in 2026 with an incredibly strong foundation. We've added important pieces, and to be able to add Konnor to this team right now could not come at a more important or better time. [There's a] sense of urgency. I hope that also comes across as a commitment from this organization and not only to the team but the city of Pittsburgh, to the fans, to reflect how serious I am, and we are, about building and sustaining a winning team in Pittsburgh.”
“The fans deserve it. The fans want it, and we saw Opening Day, and we've seen in the ballpark already, the level of energy and excitement and passion and commitment that our fans have to this team. I could not be more appreciative of their support and their engagement.”
“This obviously is an unusual and dramatic step for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I'm excited. I hope our fans are excited. I hope the city is excited. I know the organization is excited.”
