"While it’s not going to be enough for many, this is the highest opening day figure the club has had since 2017, when they started at over $94.6 million."
I think we'd all be thrilled if our current figure was that $94.4MM adjusted for inflation. I know that's unrealistic, but some adjustment upwards would imply we were trying to keep pace. The big test will come when Cruz and then Skenes and a few others enter their arb years. Bob will either need to increase payroll or have a GM that's built such a strong system that we'll have multiple starters who are in their first three years of service.
According to spotrac, the Pirates spent approximately 72% of what the average team spent in 2017. In 2025, it shows they are spending only 53% what the average team is spending. If they kept the same 72% in 2025, that would mean they still had another 32 million to spend this year. (I know there are many factors for this, but wanted to relate to your point.)
Stop with the facts, when I'm trying to make Bob sound cheap. :)
The inequity in TV revenues makes things difficult. The negativity in me says we are going to miss spring training and some baseball in 2027. After all of that, I still doubt they will find a way to fix too much.
The Pirates seem to have a dollar figure that our Owner assigns each year and our GM and President try to find parts to fit that mission. It just cannot happen any other way. Only problem is that Nutting is COMPLETELY out of touch with the reality of MLB Salaries in 2025.
A hint for Bob would be looking at what teams in our Central Division have committed for player salaries for 2025 and how far the Pirates are behind. We are last in the Central of course at $85 mil. Milwaukee is 4th in the Central at $114 mil, and Cincy is 3rd in the Central at about $120 mil. St Louis in 2nd is probably $70 mil ahead of the Pirates, and Chicago leading the Central in player salaries is probably $110 mil ahead of the Pirates. We can only hope that the Pirates will at least try to stay in the same ballpark as teams like the Brewers and Cincy - teams whose Metropolitan Areas are around the same size of the Metropolitan Area of Pittsburgh.
The Pirates have some solid players now, but we are at least two good hitters short. And, we need not to lose Oneil Cruz! Thankfully, we have a large group of excellent SP's coming of age. Skenes, Jones, Chandler, and Harrington can all be a part of the 2026 Rotation, and guys like Barco, Falter, Ashcraft, Oviedo, etc., could all be in the running for Number 5. Yep, that leaves Mitch Keller who will make $16.5 mil in 2026 and other valuable pitchers available in trade for hitters. And, then, we need to maximize the return for Paul Skenes in 2027/28.
Of course, we need to fire Shelton as soon as possible.
Agree with that, exept the we need to lose Oneil Cruz part. I get the 100 reasons and why many many people are in agreement with you on that. However, I am guessing there are 2 things that would change the way he plays. 1) A manager that holds him accountable. There will still be some mental errors, but there is no good manager will continue to watch that lack of effort. 2) A change of scenery would very possibly make him a star. Look at what happened to Jazz Chisholm when he got out of Miami and went to New York. I think it would be even more for Cruz.
Replacing Cruz's effort and ability to concentrate would be very welcoming. Replacing his ability and ceiling is almost impossible. (All opinion of course.)
Just to recap a point that could get glossed over. The Pirates opening day payroll in 2017 was $94.6M. Their highest since then was this year at $90.2M. #deflation
It was reported that the Blue Jays were paying IKF down to the minimum last year, or $2,216,989 in cash. They spread that amount over two payments, with the LRD hit being accounted for when the cash was paid--or all in 2024.
However, CBT rules call for cash to be spread out over the remaining guaranteed years of the contract. Based on the years/days remaining, the CBT hit was $547,515 in 2024 and $1,669,474 in 2025. That's all on paper though--the actual cash was all paid last season.
EDIT: Okay, I can see where the AP did put that out there; however, I can assure you it's not correct. The total amount is, but I have no idea why they would have listed the breakdown as such.
EDIT 2: Oh, I see. Those amounts are correct, but one was paid on 8/15 and the other on 8/31, but both in 2024. There seemed to be confusion on the applicable years.
"While it’s not going to be enough for many, this is the highest opening day figure the club has had since 2017, when they started at over $94.6 million."
I think we'd all be thrilled if our current figure was that $94.4MM adjusted for inflation. I know that's unrealistic, but some adjustment upwards would imply we were trying to keep pace. The big test will come when Cruz and then Skenes and a few others enter their arb years. Bob will either need to increase payroll or have a GM that's built such a strong system that we'll have multiple starters who are in their first three years of service.
In any case, I appreciate all your work on this!
According to spotrac, the Pirates spent approximately 72% of what the average team spent in 2017. In 2025, it shows they are spending only 53% what the average team is spending. If they kept the same 72% in 2025, that would mean they still had another 32 million to spend this year. (I know there are many factors for this, but wanted to relate to your point.)
I think about 2/3rds of that delta can be attributed to the reduction in local media revenues.
Stop with the facts, when I'm trying to make Bob sound cheap. :)
The inequity in TV revenues makes things difficult. The negativity in me says we are going to miss spring training and some baseball in 2027. After all of that, I still doubt they will find a way to fix too much.
The Pirates seem to have a dollar figure that our Owner assigns each year and our GM and President try to find parts to fit that mission. It just cannot happen any other way. Only problem is that Nutting is COMPLETELY out of touch with the reality of MLB Salaries in 2025.
A hint for Bob would be looking at what teams in our Central Division have committed for player salaries for 2025 and how far the Pirates are behind. We are last in the Central of course at $85 mil. Milwaukee is 4th in the Central at $114 mil, and Cincy is 3rd in the Central at about $120 mil. St Louis in 2nd is probably $70 mil ahead of the Pirates, and Chicago leading the Central in player salaries is probably $110 mil ahead of the Pirates. We can only hope that the Pirates will at least try to stay in the same ballpark as teams like the Brewers and Cincy - teams whose Metropolitan Areas are around the same size of the Metropolitan Area of Pittsburgh.
The Pirates have some solid players now, but we are at least two good hitters short. And, we need not to lose Oneil Cruz! Thankfully, we have a large group of excellent SP's coming of age. Skenes, Jones, Chandler, and Harrington can all be a part of the 2026 Rotation, and guys like Barco, Falter, Ashcraft, Oviedo, etc., could all be in the running for Number 5. Yep, that leaves Mitch Keller who will make $16.5 mil in 2026 and other valuable pitchers available in trade for hitters. And, then, we need to maximize the return for Paul Skenes in 2027/28.
Of course, we need to fire Shelton as soon as possible.
Agree with that, exept the we need to lose Oneil Cruz part. I get the 100 reasons and why many many people are in agreement with you on that. However, I am guessing there are 2 things that would change the way he plays. 1) A manager that holds him accountable. There will still be some mental errors, but there is no good manager will continue to watch that lack of effort. 2) A change of scenery would very possibly make him a star. Look at what happened to Jazz Chisholm when he got out of Miami and went to New York. I think it would be even more for Cruz.
Replacing Cruz's effort and ability to concentrate would be very welcoming. Replacing his ability and ceiling is almost impossible. (All opinion of course.)
Ole stats at it again.
Just to recap a point that could get glossed over. The Pirates opening day payroll in 2017 was $94.6M. Their highest since then was this year at $90.2M. #deflation
but remember, they DID add approximately $167m worth of analysts between those years according to Dejan.
It was reported that the Blue Jays are picking up $1.22M of IKF's $7.5M salary this season.
No, it was not.
It was reported that the Blue Jays were paying IKF down to the minimum last year, or $2,216,989 in cash. They spread that amount over two payments, with the LRD hit being accounted for when the cash was paid--or all in 2024.
However, CBT rules call for cash to be spread out over the remaining guaranteed years of the contract. Based on the years/days remaining, the CBT hit was $547,515 in 2024 and $1,669,474 in 2025. That's all on paper though--the actual cash was all paid last season.
EDIT: Okay, I can see where the AP did put that out there; however, I can assure you it's not correct. The total amount is, but I have no idea why they would have listed the breakdown as such.
https://apnews.com/article/white-sox-orioles-trade-jimenez-0c804c93adfa124b16005130b57f0692
EDIT 2: Oh, I see. Those amounts are correct, but one was paid on 8/15 and the other on 8/31, but both in 2024. There seemed to be confusion on the applicable years.
Naturally, Iove this stuff. Thanks for the article.
Overheard outside the Nuttin Suite on Federal St:
“$100K gone on Brett de Geus! Get my lawyer on the phone!!”