Since the Cherington regime began with the 2020 season, the ongoing narrative has been how a proper rebuilding would take time. For reasons never quite disclosed, the General Manager set upon purging players from the few seasons prior to taking charge. Granted, the win total declined from 82 in 2018 to 69 in 2019. So, an upheaval was to be anticipated.
The Covid-shortened 2020 campaign of 60 games found the club winning only a dreadful 19 times. And more familiar Bucs exited, with the deal of power-hitting first-baseman Josh Bell on Christmas Eve that year for a middle-reliever named Wil Crowe the most notorious player swap. Progress was fitful in 2021 with a 61-101 mark to show for the changes. The revolving door of personnel stayed active into 2022 as the club completed that season at 62-100. If there was improvement, fans did not notice. And grumbling from the base continued. Surely, 2023 would therefore constitute a make-or-break year for Cherington and manager Derek Shelton as discussion centered on the development of young talent and the return of franchise icon Andrew McCutchen. As long as the core stayed healthy, there would be success eventually. Or so we were told.
And 2023 resembled a partial breakthrough, with the team notching 76 victories and demonstrating a degree of promise. Despite what became a too-often penchant for dealing off veteran players at the end of July with the pledge of adding young talent, there was at least grudging accord the club was performing better. The trend stalled in 2024 by a repeat of the 2023 totals, and the noticeable dip in player payroll. What had been the case for several previous Winters involved the often less-than-harmonious arbitration hearings, in which players who had won their cases frequently were quick to depart due to Cherington’s apparently vindicative maneuvering. It can be argued with relative ease that management had often proposed low-ball offers, and did not appreciate financial decisions that went against them. Hence, recognizable players of merit were traded before long.
Now, the era of clubs retaining all key personnel are now history. For the Pirates, however, an organization in dire need of the presence of valuable complementary experienced names, such maneuvering was counterproductive. Bryan Reynolds, the sole star whose salary was remotely commensurate with his statistics, became their highest-paid athlete and is still the case. For Reynolds to remain with the team long-term, owner intervention/approval during negotiations was necessary. Further, it is fair to point out Reynolds and his agent ceded more in talks than management before an agreement was reached.
As far as trading veteran talent by the in-season deadline for promising youngsters, the myth is that this tactic is working fine. It is not. For example, lefthanded starter Tyler Anderson was sent to Seattle for Carter Bins and Joaquin Tejada. Since that time, Anderson has played for several clubs, with a 35-31 record and a 3.39 to display for his efforts. Bins and Tejada are no longer viewed as prospects. Indeed, Bins was released last year.
The performances of several mainstays typify the stale holding pattern maintained by the club. Third-baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, a promising talent in 2020, both at the plate and in the field, regressed significantly as a hitter from 2021-on, struggling with a variety of nagging injuries. From 2022 through the present, Hayes holds a .234 batting average with just 27 homers (about 1 every 60 at-bats) in that span. Mitch Keller, once thought of as the staff’s eventual ace starting pitcher, plateaued during the same period. Keller’s 30-41 win/loss record, coupled with a 4.13 ERA, prevent him from being considered an elite hurler, though he has been a reliable member of the rotation. These players may have already reached their respective ceilings. With their relatively-modest contracts, they are unlikely to be moved.
Then, there is the peculiar example of Oneil Cruz. Formerly a 6’7″ shortstop, his erratic infield play compelled the brass to shift him to center field where his range and strong arm might flourish. Though unusual, it was a viable option. As for his offense, few MLB batters harbor Cruz’s power. Yet, his hitting splits are pretty confounding. Though several coaches have been involved, Cruz’s career numbers remain head-scratching. Against right-handers, the lefty-swinging Cruz has a .267 average with 42 homers in 794 at-bats. Versus left-handers, Cruz’s .191 average includes a much lower 10 home runs in over 300 at-bats with an extreme 133 strikeouts. Somehow, Cruz retains the lineup’s leadoff spot irrespective of the opposing starting pitcher. And the organization has not discovered how to maximize the soon-to-be 27 year-old’s stellar potential. Then again, Pittsburgh persistently dwells in the lower echelon of franchises as it relates to player-development.
But Cruz, like phenom Paul Skenes, is a drawing card. For a club with evidently no authentic designs on becoming a contender, exciting young talent (along with the McCutchen farewell tour) reveals fans will show up to a decent extent for fireworks nights, bobblehead giveaways, and similar promotions. There is also the attraction of seeing actual superstars (Ohtani, Judge, etc.) in action from other clubs. Even with such benefits, the organization consistently ranks next to last among National League teams in home attendance. This perhaps underscores there is no genuine substitute for fielding a winner when it comes to engaging a broader fan-following and drawing substantial crowds.
Current manager Don Kelly, in post-game comments following a loss, is apt to say the club, though trailing, kept battling back, scratching and clawing. This raises a counterpart issue: why would MLB players NOT keep trying to win a game in which they were behind? It seems such action is what they are paid to pursue. If there are alleged quitters around, why would they remain on the roster? Praising players for what they ought to otherwise be trying to accomplish sounds hollow. The media dutifully reports these kinds of comments. What next? Participation awards?
But there you have the state of the franchise. The ship meanders to and fro without a positive aim or a desirable destination. The owner, it appears, wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hold Back The Nite 