Michael Kay crushes Pirates owner for not spending money to build around Paul Skenes
Penny-pinching Pirates owner Bob Nutting was again the target of criticism for their lack of spending during the offseason — this time by Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay.
“We talked about the Pirates not doing much at all during the offseason,” Kay said on the YES Network telecast during the second inning of the Yankees’ 5-4 extra-inning defeat to the Pirates on Sunday. “The free-agent contracts they signed were all one-year deals to veterans to kind of flush out the roster… So I looked this up. The last multi-year free-agent deal they signed was in November of 2016, Ivan Nova.”
Nova, the ex-Yankee, signed a three-year, $26 million contract with Pittsburgh and had a solid career with the Pirates that included a 3.06 ERA in his first year with the team.
The Pirates, who have $76.3 million in committed payroll allocations in 2025, according to Spotrac, are a team with plenty of young developed talent, but as Kay points out, they have not signed a free agent in nearly a decade.
“And their owner has been here at the ballpark this weekend, and he’s getting jeered every time they see his face,” Kay continued.
“We’ve noticed for two days already, especially on Opening Day, the frustration of the fan base here in Pittsburgh,” broadcast partner John Flaherty replied. “Such a great sports town, great sports fans, they’re craving a winner again here with the Pirates.”
“And you can’t say that it’s too small of a town,” Kay continued. “The Steelers sell out every game. The Penguins do great as well. This could be just like Cleveland. Cleveland contends almost every single year.”
The Pirates, just like every team in baseball, receives a share of the revenue between local TV money and national revenues, which was projected to be roughly $200 million per team.
Pittsburgh’s spending less than half that is a brutal reality for a Pirates team that has some legitimate young talent.
“The thing that has really angered the fans the most is they have an all-time pitcher in Paul Skenes, who has just electrified the baseball world. And they did nothing to build a competitive team around him.”
Skenes is entering his first full season with the Pirates after striking out 170 batters in 133 innings last season, where he announced himself as the most exciting pitcher in baseball.
It’s not just Skenes in Pittsburgh; the Pirates also boast the league’s leader in steals, ONeil Cruz.
The Pirates are 3-7 and tied for last place in the NL Central, although they did take Sunday’s game in 11 innings
About The Author
