Why are Pirates being EVEN CHEAPER than usual in MLB free agency? Paul Skenes deal an explanation?

In this clip from their weekly podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey react to the Pirates' sluggishness in MLB free agency. What is the primary reason GM Ben Cherington has made only small moves like signing Andrew McCutchen and Adam Frazier or trading for Spencer Horwitz so far? Is TV revenue an issue? Is saving for a Paul Skenes extension a possibility? And how much trouble are Cherington and manager Derek Shelton in? Should we interpret the inactivity as a signal that they feel comfortable? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
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[@Cpl4200]

Are u serious? Skenes will never sign with this joke of an organization!!

[@lawrencefalk8714]

Even the Gaurdians, a superior organization to the Pirates, do not pay mega-jillions of dollars for their steller pitching. Adam Bittner isn't thinking clearly today introducing the thought that the Pirates would ever pay Skenes.

[@thatsright4194]

Nope. Mind as well stop wasting his time and trade him now

[@bobross1829]

I would think the minimum for Skenes (if he stays healthy) is 40 million a year with at least 4 years. The thought Nutting would do that when they would not pay a few hundred thousand incentives and dump guys in September to save nickels is laughable. They let Cutch go the first time when a measly 8-10 million a year was probably doable to sign him for maybe another four years. That is 32-40 million total for the face of the franchise and they traded him rather than pay that.

[@BenDover-kb2th]

Someone has to push Nutting to sell the team. Create a scandal like what happened to the Clippers owner

[@jedsmith111]

Ya i used to love the buccos. I just dont care anymore. Decades of losing will do that to you. The people running the team dont care about winning. Other teams are trting to get better and we sign Frazier and trade for Barry Horowitz lol

[@Chewmann]

With those signings, watch out World Series, here we come.... 🥴

[@lipsis76]

The Dodger's called and they want to know what size jersey Skenes needs? 🤣

[@bobross1829]

They are cheap and are banking on Jack Suwinski turning into a star. It is clear to me that although the fan base and sports talkers wrote him off, the Pirates did not. He is cheap with years of control and "if" they can magically make him a good hitter, he is way cheaper than actually paying someone. And as someone else said, no one wants to come here. The Pirates basically screamed last year that any "incentives" in a contract are worthless as they will dump you before those happen, so every player is probably asking for huge upfront. And um, they are cheap.

[@Chewmann]

The chances of Shelton and his coaches suddenly developing the players under them is about the same as "enter any trite phrase that comes to mind" Hell, they can't teach basic fundamentals of playing the game. You know, things like base running, moving runners over, catching, the list goes on and on!!!! Then there is the daily lottery of who's playing where on any given day. That really develops players jumping from position to position. Finally, the unbelievable plan that Shelton and Cherrington came up with.... so you're a catcher and you've played it your entire life > Right Field. Top prospect at shortstop. Interesting > CENTER FIELD. All-Star outfielder (maybe not the strongest defensive player but there aren't a whole lot of options on the team) > 1st BASE. We need a relief pitcher, possibly a closer. Let's see... Hey Rowdy get on the mound.... SERIOUSLY, when are these... I'll be nice, when will we get new leadership?

[@markbonasorte6711]

Pham hit well in PNC, he huts well in St.Louis, and Chicago he shows what our formula will be just like the 64 Dodgers Three Shutdown Pitchers and a scratch and steal three runs an win

[@ZeldaFan1520]

I bet it’s not even the fact that a deal is in place, it’s the fact that they expect his pre-arb and arb years to be expensive. Still very inexcusable for a team that won’t have him in 4 years

[@yurky1]

I'm still hopeful maybe I'm the only 1 left. There are a lot of big ifs that could make this team a playoff team. But we have alot of hopeful potential from a few handful of players that could make the step and become the hitters we expect them to. I'm just being hopeful that we can truelly compete this year

[@MrHarpito]

Maybe the free agents are unwilling to consider signing for Nuttball?

[@GaryCedestromIII]

I bailed on the Pirates in 1987 for the Cincinnati Reds but I'll say this, the sport of baseball is a hell of a lot better when the Pirates are good.

[@swissmoneymedia]

I think one thing people don’t understand is players don’t want to sign here 😂

[@bobross1829]

nailed it

[@psycho8771]

Unless you overpay. Equal offers and they will choose the non Pirates offer.

[@johnmassung]

The Pirates is The Pirates.😂

[@davidjones5547]

Does anyone trust Cherington to make a good deal when he has to trade Skenes in 2027? I certainly don't

[@joshuarosenberg1782]

I think Cherrington is very comfortable.

[@danharasin4571]

Looks like another season I don’t go to a game

[@TerryMccarthy-s3r]

I wish the Pirates would move to Montreal and become the Expos because they jerseys were awesome, plus then we could skip Pirates talk for the rest of time

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

Because Bob Nutting’s just trolling at this point.

[@godirectwildlandfire6077]

IIRC Skenes' agent is Scott Boras. If so, the Pirates couldn't offer him enough money to get him to sign.

[@psycho8771]

Not Boras

[@user39-230]

Paul Skenes is repped by ISE Baseball, not Scott Boars. ISE reps players such as Justin Verlander.

[@billkerns9258]

Tge headline is funny. Are you comedians?

[@DaleDuvall-r2v]

They wont win games with what they have right now , its VERY sad

[@thatsright4194]

I'm not going to be tricked to the ballpark by nutting. I know he's just using skenes right now to sell tickets and not necessarily to win ball games. Good luck with the dodgers Paul.

[@Desert_Kaktus]

Considering the Dodgers have more elite players than they could field that are better than the best on the Pirates, why not trade Skenes? Does that make too much sense? Even if he's an all-time great, what do you have to show for it? A few years on his baseball card saying PIT and 20 years from now going, wait that all time great Dodgers player played for the Pirates?

[@Washeduptoughguy]

Who is the guy who hosts this. Lol. How does he have a podcast

[@heidiluxtwins]

Do people actually believe the pirates are going to spend money? After all these years with Nutting at the helm?

[@TerryMccarthy-s3r]

Wait until they trade Skenes for prospects, I can't wait to hear how good they try to make that trade sound

[@dandunne-d5b]

They lost TV revenue

[@Devinlacecock8141]

Bingo

[@bnzz58]

You can't leave Skenes walk into free agency. If they know they can never sign him long term trade him for a bundle of top prospects

[@TerryMccarthy-s3r]

A bundle of nobody's more likely

[@deniscunningham3059]

Something tells me a trade is in the works. Stay tuned!

[@Chewmann]

Bubba Chandler for prospects is my bet

[@OhyeahImFine]

I spend money on the Pirates like Nutting spends money on players. Fan since 1969, but I have never been to PNC Park. Don’t pay for the Pittsburgh sports regional network. Don’t buy Pirates clothing. Go Bucs! Sell Nutting Sell!

[@user39-230]

Your loss not going in 2013, 2014, or 2015.

[@dogpd3]

@@user39-230 3 years out of 30 losing season. What a rebuttal

[@user39-230]

@@dogpd3 It's not a rebuttal. Nutting should sell the team. But you should have gone then. It's not a flex saying you never have been to PNC Park. The entertainment value in those three years made up for the money spent on the game. I'm sure you're fine, though.

[@dogpd3]

@ I did go in 2013. But I’ll never go back again especially after they blew up the team in 2015 and don’t care or try to win