Lone silver lining for Pirates trade deadline whiff could have historic implications

The Pittsburgh Pirates were supposed to control the market at this year's trade deadline, with numerous high-quality options thought to be available. Instead, several from that group still stand.

Even the ones who did get moved didn't bring back the treasure trove of assets despite inferior players at the same positions generating arguably better returns.

It's hard to believe that, despite a lengthy list of rumored suitors and a weak overall starting pitching market, Mitch Keller is still on this team. Ditto for veteran pieces on expiring contracts like Tommy Pham and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who, while not premium assets like Keller, have no future value for the organization.

Then, there's the head-scratching decision to hang onto Dennis Santana, whose current 1.36 ERA would be by far a career best and whose value will never be higher with another year of team control.

These missteps might lead to the end of the Ben Cherington era sooner rather than later, but an even greater change could be afoot.

The Pirates blowing the trade deadline might be the first domino needed to force miserly owner Bob Nutting to sell the team

Pirates owner Bob Nutting ranks among the worst owners — not just in baseball, but in all of professional sports. From his refusal to spend, questionable decisions in who he hires to manage the club's baseball operations, and shockingly offensive decisions to disrespect franchise legends, all in service of earning an extra dollar, Nutting has been disastrous on all fronts.

However, it's not very simple for the league to come in and straight up force an owner to sell. As long as he fulfills his contractual obligations and doesn't engage in any financial monkey business, he's more or less free to run the franchise how he sees fit, even if that means the Pirates are his personal piggybank instead of a franchise that tries to win ball games.

With that said, the pressure is mounting, especially after Rob Manfred's comments last month. There's no reason why the Pirates couldn't have sold more and negotiated better deals for the players they shipped out at the deadline. Either way, they'd be saving money by clearing veteran contracts off the books and replacing those expenditures primarily with low-paid minor league talent. Furthermore, making additional aggressive and better moves would have set the franchise up better for the future, even if that future would only end up in another massive fire sale.

Take David Bednar, for example. The baseball people in the organization have wanted to move the star closer for peak value for years, just for Nutting to block trades, ultimately leading to him being dealt this year for a thoroughly underwhelming return.

The incompetence is astounding and now further puts a target on Nutting's back. If he doesn't open up the checkbook this offseason and actually start investing in the club's on-field product, the calls for him to sell the team will reach a fever pitch. While fan outrage can raise the pressure, another offseason where Nutting tries to quietly pocket Pittsburgh's robust revenue-sharing distributions might force the league to step in.

Major League Baseball can't afford to have a franchise in the league that actively doesn't try to build a winning team either in the present or the not-so-distant future, but another offseason on the sidelines would signal that the Pirates are doing just that. With a tense negotiation on the horizon with the MLBPA over the next collective bargaining agreement, the league can't give the union ammunition with Nutting's anti-competitive actions. Nor can the league risk further damage to its brand should a lockout occur.

To that end, Rob Manfred and Co. might finally take action — buckling under the pressure and confronting their obligations to the other 29 teams, and make Nutting sell. It might seem like a long shot, but if Pirates fans keep voicing their frustrations, they may finally be able to liberate the city of Pittsburgh from the horrors of this regime. Blowing this trade deadline will serve as the lynchpin of their case.