Bob Nutting's odd moment of popularity after Konnor Griffin signing probably won't last long

Bob Nutting is not the most popular owner in baseball. As a matter of fact, Pittsburgh Pirates fans would probably tell you he's the least popular, given his notorious penny-pinching habits.

He did open his wallet this offseason to some extent, giving the front office the green light to sign Marcell Ozuna and Ryan O'Hearn. But that paled in comparison to the ludicrous (for him) measures the team took to extend top prospect Konnor Griffin, handing the 19-year-old shortstop a team-record $140 million shortly after his MLB debut.

That earned him quite a few brownie points with the Bucs faithful, to the point where some fans were even trying to snag his autograph before a game this week:

It's amazing what wonders $140 million can do for the soul.

Bob Nutting must double-down on newfound spending habits to keep Pirates relevant

Extending Griffin was a unique case that required a convergence of multiple factors — an otherworldly prospect on the precipice of the major leagues, an impending lockout that could threaten the terms of team control, and the beginning of a new competitive window for the Pirates — that likely won't happen again any time soon. Nutting isn't going to suddenly start giving out nine-figure contracts like they're pieces of candy on Halloween.

Still, in conjunction with the signings of Ozuna, O'Hearn, and Gregory Soto, it's clear that some of the historic frugality that has hung over this franchise is dissipating. There's a large gap between spending competitively and matching the Los Angeles Dodgers' spendthrift habits.

If the Pirates can carry their early momentum forward (they've started the season 8-5), the adulation for Nutting will only grow louder. This city hasn't seen competitive baseball in more than a decade, and a return to October would alleviate a lot of the animosity Pittsburghers have shared via loud "sell the team" chants in recent seasons.

Unfortunately, this road goes both ways, and Nutting can't simply rest on his laurels if he wants to maintain his newfound popularity. A Paul Skenes extension would earn him a lifetime of goodwill, but it's also probably not going to happen. That kicks the can down the road toward extensions for other young pitchers like Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones, or possibly a blockbuster contract with free-agent-to-be Brandon Lowe.

History suggests Nutting will fail to meet expectations on all of these fronts. If that's true, they hype around Griffin's extension will only last so long. Baseball is a "what have you done for me lately" business, and that extends even to the owners signing the checks.