• Loading stock data...
Sunday, July 6, 2025

The Pirates Are Facing Political Pressure to Play Better

  • A pair of Pennsylvania state representatives call on the MLB club to boost its payroll.
  • The Pirates push back on an economic report analyzing its local impact.
Jun 23, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (right) reacts as he talks with pitcher Jared Jones (left) after the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The hype, both in Pittsburgh and nationally, continues to build rapidly around Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes (above). But as the MLB club approaches the start of lease renewal negotiations for the publicly owned PNC Park, some Pennsylvania legislators are still unhappy.

As the Pirates are still three games under .500 entering Friday’s game at the White Sox and haven’t reached the playoffs since 2015, Republican state representatives Tim Bonner and Jim Gregory are arguing those losing ways are depressing taxpayers’ investment in the ballpark.

The pair requested a report on the team’s fiscal impact from the state’s Independent Fiscal Office, which has been published and estimated that if the Pirates won just three additional games per year, gross fan spending would increase by $76 million. The IFO found that $31 million of that spending would occur outside of the stadium and support local businesses. 

“If the taxpayers are going to put money into the stadium, the Pirates need to also invest in PNC Park, as well as put a worthy product on the field,” Bonner said in a statement. “Taxpayers deserve more than the bare minimum.”

The current PNC Park agreement expires after the 2030 season, and formal renewal talks are expected to begin over the next two years. The IFO developed a similar study for the Phillies, who also play in a publicly owned facility and have generated much higher results.

Operating in one of MLB’s smallest media markets, the Pirates have long been an easy target for politicians, fans, media, and other constituent groups. The team has just four winning seasons in the last 30 years—three of which came in the Andrew McCutchen–led era of the mid-2010s—and its current $85.2 million payroll is the 29th in the league, beating only the soon-relocating A’s. That figure is below Pittsburgh’s payrolls in each of the ’15–17 seasons that surpassed $90 million, despite a significant bump in national-level MLB revenues since then.

The club’s average attendance of 21,340 per game, up by nearly 7% from a year ago, is 24th in the league. 

Team Response

Not surprisingly, the Pirates have pushed back on the legislators’ comments. Broad, performance-based lease agreements are not common across the industry, due in part to the many variables that contribute to teams’ on-field records, and are not likely to be included in the next PNC Park lease term. 

“Focusing solely on major league payroll is limiting because there are countless other investments that clubs make to develop a winning team,” the Pirates said in a letter included in the IFO report. 

The Bob Nutting–owned franchise, meanwhile, is seeking to amass a broader base of talent around Skenes, who quickly has captivated the sport. The frenzy hit another level Friday as Skenes was named as the starting pitcher for the National League in the July 16 All-Star Game at Globe Life Field. Skenes is just the fifth rookie pitcher to start an All-Star Game, and he’s the first MLB player to be drafted No. 1 and become an All-Star the following year. 

“We have been very clear about our plan to build and sustain a winner at the major league level, and have made significant investments and progress in the execution of that plan,” the team added.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”
Jun 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.

Guardians Pitcher Luis Ortiz Put on Paid Leave Amid MLB Probe

Reports say the investigation is tied to gambling.
exclusive

PGA Tour Slashes FedEx Cup Winner Pay From $25M to $10M

The FedExCup is reworking how it distributes its bonus money.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.

Liverpool to Pay Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract to His Widow

Jota had two years remaining on his contract.
Myles Turner
July 1, 2025

Pacers Sour on Paying Luxury Tax and Let Myles Turner Walk

The team had seemed willing to cross the threshold for their center.
July 2, 2025

Rogers Takes Control of Canada’s Top Teams in MLSE Buyout

The Canadian media giant now has an arguably unrivaled sports portfolio.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Manchester City
July 1, 2025

Manchester City Pockets $50 Million for Early Club World Cup Elimination

Saudi side Al-Hilal will bank at least $35 million in its quarterfinal run.
July 1, 2025

Bucks Shock NBA World By Waiving Lillard’s $113M Deal, Signing Turner

Damian Lillard had two years left on his deal.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
July 1, 2025

Panthers Lock Up Stanley Cup–Winning Core With Long-Term Deals

Hours before free agency, Florida cemented terms with their essential players.
June 30, 2025

Nuggets, Rockets Make Aggressive Moves to Challenge Thunder

Denver took the Thunder to seven games in the conference semifinals.