The Pirates have been building for this.
There’s increased excitement and raised expectations around PNC Park this season, sure. But when it comes to how the organization arrived here, chairman Bob Nutting believes it’s the culmination of a long process.
Asked prior to the home opener Friday what drove the Pirates’ decision-making this offseason -- staying the course and spending more on Major League players -- Nutting again emphasized the process and how much has gone into this.
It’s not all that dissimilar from the Pirates enduring another late-season collapse in 2012 (16-36 over the final two months) before finally figuring it out in 2013.
“Having been around the game for some time now, I know how long it takes to build a winner,” Nutting said. “Unfortunately, it does take process, time, perseverance and patience.
“Those are hard things in sports. But we’ve been building a stronger team for a long time. If you look at the construction of this team, you’ll see it was build over time.”
The point Nutting was trying to made was this:
• There are holdovers from the old regime in Bryan Reynolds, Mitch Keller, Oneil Cruz, Braxton Ashcraft and a few others.
• There are Draft picks from the Ben Cherington Era in Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin, Bubba Chandler, Henry Davis, Carmen Mlodzinski, Jared Jones, Nick Gonzales and more.
• There are players Cherington and his staff have added over time via non-Draft transactions such as Spencer Horwitz, Joey Bart, Dennis Santana, Isaac Mattson and Justin Lawrence.
• They’ve also revamped the way they draft, scout and development players.
There have been mistakes made. Nutting and the Pirates are aware. But the point is that baseball team-building in a small market requires a lot.
Now that the Pirates are here, though, Nutting isn’t backing off his excitement or expectations.
“I think we’re really well positioned to have a special, special year in 2026,” Nutting said.
The Pirates chairman was then asked specifically about those expectations.
“Our expectations every year should be that we’re headed toward the postseason, that we’re going to be playing meaningful games in September and October,” Nutting said. “I think we have a very good team this year. There’s a lot of excitement about the team, and I think it’s well-deserved."
But why now, right? Why did the Pirates’ Opening Day payroll increase more than $14 million to a record $102 million -- and maybe more depending on what happens with Konnor Griffin?
That question was posed to Nutting. His answer once more went back to the team-building process, the avenues small-market teams need to navigate and the Pirates improving in those.
That set the table for this offseason. There, Nutting liked how the Pirates had a clear objective (adding offense) and then executed on it.
“In Pittsburgh, it’s never gonna be about the absolute dollars we spend,” Nutting said. “There are always going to be teams spending way more than we are. That’s OK. We need to build it the way we can build a winning team. I think we’ve done that.
“That’s through patience, perseverance and consistent building. We wouldn’t be able to make the additions we did this offseason if we did not put the time into building a solid foundation.”
‘He embodies that’
While roster construction falls under Cherington's purview, Nutting has been equally as impressed with the culture created inside the clubhouse by manager Don Kelly.
It’s why Nutting believed last May that Kelly was unquestionably the guy. His faith in Kelly throughout Spring Training has only grown.
“Donnie loves Pittsburgh,” Nutting said. “He loves the Pirates as much as anyone I’ve ever been around. Donnie is a rock we’re going to build on.
“He’s also done a really good job building a coaching staff around him to complement both what the players need and also to fill in gaps that we had. ... He’s done a really good job building out his team to drive that culture in the clubhouse.”
Griffin now and later?
Promoting Konnor Griffin for the home opener was a simple decision in Nutting’s mind. The 19-year-old can help the Pirates win games.
But externally, the Griffin conversation involves involves a possible extension, whether he and the Pirates will come to an agreement on a long-term deal.
While Nutting declined most extension talk, he did say he’s a huge Griffin fan. Nutting also believes the shortstop fits the description of someone the Pirates want to have here for a long time.
“Konnor is a special kid,” Nutting said. “Incredibly talented but also incredibly poised and mature. Really looking forward to seeing him play at the Major League level. I’d love to see him play as a Pirate for a long, long time.
“Just like we did with Bryan [Reynolds] and Mitch [Keller], we should try to have players who are going to be high-impact players be Pirates for a long time.”
Cutch and looming lockout
Two non-Pirates questions that were asked of Nutting included Andrew McCutchen and concerns over a lockout in December 2026 -- obviously unrelated.
Nutting declined to get into specifics with the Pirates’ offseason choices but emphasized his appreciation for McCutchen and what the five-time All-Star has done throughout his career.
“I have nothing but respect for Andrew,” Nutting said. “He has been and always will be an important part of the Pirates family. I wish him all the best -- [wife] Maria and his whole family. Always gonna root for him. He’s one of my favorite players.”
On the labor side, Nutting was asked whether he’s concerned about a potential work stoppage and if he wants to see a salary cap and floor adopted as part of a new collective bargaining agreement.
“I should not and will not speculate on potential bargaining positions or outcomes,” Nutting said. “That’s the role of the Commissioner’s Office. I have a lot of respect for Rob [Manfred] and his team. That’s where those should be answered.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.