Cardinals' current situation with Nolan Arenado could convince Pirates to continue frugal ways

The Pittsburgh Pirates and their owner, Bob Nutting, are notorious for pinching pennies. Their total team payroll for 2024 ranked 31st out of all 32 MLB teams at $84 million, trailed only by the Oakland A's at $62 million.

The largest contract in Pirates franchise history – $106.75 million over eight years to outfielder Bryan Reynolds – is a steal by modern MLB standards, and they only signed Reynolds to that contract in 2023. Prior to that, the largest contract in franchise history belonged to third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes at eight years, $70 million. Again, most MLB teams wouldn't even blink at that amount.

Awarding the largest contract in franchise history at the time to an oft-injured, underperforming bat in Hayes was certainly a choice by Pittsburgh, and that $70 million, though insubstantial by league-wide standards, is starting to look like an overpay. If that misguided investment hasn't furthered the club's commitment to its miserly ways, then perhaps another investment from a National League Central rival will.

Cardinals' current situation with Nolan Arenado could convince Pirates to continue frugal ways

Take Hayes' contract term, triple the dollar amount (and then some), and that's what the St. Louis Cardinals gave Nolan Arenado. The third baseman is entering his age-34 season and still has three years remaining on his contract, but the Cardinals – who are embarking on a multi-year rebuild – are having an awfully hard time getting his salary off the books.

Once it became clear that Arenado didn't fit into their future plans, the Cardinals began publicly shopping him on the trade market. So far, the only team they've gotten to bite is the Houston Astros, but Arenado himself nixed the deal with his no-trade clause.

Since the Houston talks collapsed, traction on a potential Arenado trade has been practically nonexistent; teams like the New York Yankees, who once seemed like a fit, are no longer interested, leaving St. Louis in an awkward position after they went public with their desire to move on from him. So, in addition to being saddled with three years of a contract they don't want, the Cardinals have lost whatever leverage they had in any future trade talks.

Not that Nutting needed any additional encouragement to not spend his money, but with this latest debacle, the Pirates' NL Central rivals have given him just that. After watching the Cardinals crash and burn on Arenado, don't expect Pittsburgh to sign any lengthy contract extensions anytime soon.

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