The Pirates tore the organization down after General Manager Ben Cherington took over.
Since, then the Pirates have been building their farm system (ranked in the top 3 by most projections).
While building the minor league system for the Pirates is the best way to improve the team since they can’t compete with $1 billion-dollar payrolls like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Even though a large portion of the team on the field will come from the draft and minor league deals, part of the equation for a successful team is filling in some positions with free agents.
After the Andrew McCutchen re-signing, Post-Gazette’s Pirates writer Jason Mackey said more moves were coming.
That seemed to dry up with no big signings for the Pirates, at least so far.
Owner Bob Nutting expressed the same frustrations with Mackey in an exclusive interview with the Post-Gazette.
“I wish we were further along in this offseason than we are,” Nutting told Mackey.
He also told Mackey that Cherington has the ability to increase and offer to a free agent if needed.
While the money may be there to sign a free agent, the interest from the player may not be there, because of a perception of the organization.
The team hasn’t competed in the playoffs since 2015 and while last season was encouraging at the beginning and end, this team still needs to prove it can compete.
“I think a big problem of it, look these players have an option to play for a team that is more competitive than the Pirates and maybe more than the Pirates . . . they’re fighting a perception battle,” said Mackey.
When it comes to acquiring a player through a trade, the Pirates need to be care careful that they don’t make one the jeopardizes the team’s future.
What Mackey took from his conversation with Nutting is that he wants Cherington to make a risk when it comes to a trade.