Breaking: Pirates’ Owner Bob Nutting Makes Honest Admission Ahead of Trade Deadline…

The race for the final two Wild Card spots in the National League is intensifying, with the Pittsburgh Pirates among eight teams within two games of each other. They are contending alongside division leaders like the Phillies, Dodgers, and Brewers, and the Braves, who currently hold a firm grasp on the top Wild Card spot. Despite the Pirates’ modest 36-39 record, owner Bob Nutting expressed confidence that the team can compete for a playoff berth this year.

“I think we’ve shown it’s attainable,” Nutting told reporters, including Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. However, he acknowledged the team needs more offensive production, with their offense ranking fourth from the bottom in the majors with an 85 wRC+. Nutting indicated that the club is evaluating how much of the needed improvement can come from within and how much will require external acquisitions.

Nutting suggested that these external acquisitions might occur well before the July 30 trade deadline. Unlike recent trends where major transactions happen close to the deadline, Nutting hinted at earlier moves. “I think we should be prepared to move early,” Nutting said, as reported by Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I think we should be prepared to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. I know [club GM Ben Cherington] has that flexibility to look across a broader range of alternatives and timelines.”

Hiles also noted that Nutting reaffirmed his commitment to providing additional funds for the baseball operations department now that the team is in a position to contend. This is encouraging news for Pirates fans, given that the current payroll of just over $86 million is the highest since 2017. The following offseason saw key departures like Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole, marking the start of a rebuild that the team is now emerging from.

The Pirates boast a strong starting pitching staff, with Paul Skenes and Jared Jones leading the rotation, and Mitch Keller and Bailey Falter providing solid mid-rotation support. Given their pitching strength and offensive struggles, it’s no surprise that Robert Murray of FanSided reported the Pirates prioritize acquiring offense this summer. The only clear sellers currently are the White Sox, Rockies, Marlins, Angels, and A’s, offering potential targets like Chicago’s star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and late-blooming A’s slugger Brent Rooker.

Both Robert Jr. and Rooker would be speculative fits for a Pirates team needing outfield improvement. The team could also look to strengthen first base, where Rowdy Tellez has struggled with a 71 wRC+ in 61 games. Star first basemen Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have been frequent subjects of trade rumors, although smaller acquisitions such as former Pirate and current Marlin Josh Bell or recently DFA’d A’s corner bat J.D. Davis could also provide upgrades over Tellez.