Pirates Owner Calls 2025 Season Unacceptable

“This season, we fell well short as an organization both on and off the field,” Nutting said in the press release. “It has been unacceptable. Our focus must shift to execution, to delivering wins. Results are the only thing that matter. We owe it to our fans, to the city, and to the legacy of this team to get it right. Ben and everyone in the organization fully understands what is expected, and that the work ahead demands urgency. Today’s announcement of Donnie is the first of many steps we will take this offseason to bring winning baseball back to Pittsburgh.”

Despite noting the 2025 season as "unacceptable", general manager Ben Cherington will stay on for his seventh season in 2026 and so too will Pirates president Travis Williams.

The Pirates have historically had incredibly low payrolls under Nutting, including starting the 2025 season with a payroll of of $89,975,500, per Cot's Contracts, which was $20 million lower than their next National League Central opponent in the Milwaukee Brewers at $109,141,136.

It was also the fourth lowest in the MLB, with only the Miami Marlins at $68.9 million, Chicago White Sox at $74 million, the Athletics at $78.2 million and the Tampa Bay Rays at $82.9 million ranking lower than the Pirates.

The Pirates haven't signed a free agent position player to a multi-year deal since John Jaso, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal on Dec. 23, 2015, and the last free agent to a multi-year deal since right-handed starting pitcher Iván Nova, who singed a three-year, $26 million deal on Dec. 27, 2016

Nutting has also not seen much success since taking over as owner prior to the 2007 season, with a 1354-1619 (.455) record, just three playoff appearances from 2013-15 and four winning seasons in 19 years in charge.

Williams, following the press conference on Kelly's extension, didn't discuss payroll, but noted that they had the resources to win in 2026.

Pirates fans have protested Nutting throughout his tenure, demanding him to sell the team in many ways, with regular "Sell the team Bob" chants at PNC Park, accosting him on the left field rotunda on Opening Day, flying planes with that message and even graffiti outside the ballpark.

Nutting, Williams and Cherington have a crucial 2026, and with a strong pitching staff, headlined by Paul Skenes, and the best prospect in baseball in Konnor Griffin, fans won't take anything less than winning baseball.