Pittsburgh Pirates Monday Minute: Huntington on Future Spending

Editorial: The Pittsburgh Pirates Monday Minute is a weekly article that takes a look at a hot topic surrounding the club.  This week’s Monday Minute will be based on Huntington’s recent comments regarding future spending.

If there is one consistent complaint from fans about the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, it is that they do not spend enough money.  Even more specific, that the front office says they will spend more money, but they do not.  Now, this is not always true.  Last year the Bucs traded away Francisco Liriano and said that they would reallocate the money for the 2017 season.  They did by resigning Ivan Nova, signing Daniel Hudson, and extending David Freese.  Still, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to rank in the bottom quarter of the league in payroll.

Yesterday in the Post-Gazette, General Manager Neal Huntington told Bill Brink that the team has extra money to spend this year.  According to Brink, the Pittsburgh Pirates have about $5.3 million in extra spending money.  This is mainly due to the money saved from Jung Ho Kang, Starling Marte, and the money saved when they cut Jared Hughes.  Huntington expanded on the potential extra spending, telling Brink:

“As soon as that option becomes available, we’ll gladly pour the money back into the club,” Huntington said. “April trades are essentially nonexistent. May trades are hard to come by.”More from Rum BunterPittsburgh Pirates Prospect Stockwatch: Outfielder Tres GonzalezPittsburgh Pirates Podcast: Rum Bunter Radio Talks Winter Meetings FalloutPittsburgh Pirates: Potential Leadoff Hitters in 2023Pittsburgh Pirates: The Rotation is not being ImprovedPittsburgh Pirates Make Vince Velasquez Signing Official

Huntington notes that it is very hard to complete early season trades, and essentially to not expect anything in the near future.  However, it is not completely out of the question.  In 2014 Huntington pulled off an early season trade by acquiring Ike Davis. Even with that, one could say that Huntington gave up a lot at the time.  The trade consisted of 2013 second round pick Blake Taylor and a Triple-A reliever who posted a strong 2013.

It is really hard to say what Huntington plans on doing with the additional $5.3 million.  If the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to play close to the bottom of the NL Central, then there is really no point to spend that money.  However, the Bucs have played much better over the last two weeks, and with a favorable upcoming schedule could find themselves back in the race.  If they are able to improve and eventually get Kang, Marte, and Taillon back, the Bucs could be in a position to buy this summer.  If they are, it sounds like they will have some extra money to play with in addition to what they most likely originally had budgeted.