Pirates GM Ben Cherington clearly running out of excuses to keep Bubba Chandler in Triple-A

By now, there's no hiding behind the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates are playing the waiting game with top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler in an effort to protect his rookie eligibility.

A pitcher is considered a rookie until he exceeds 50 innings in the Major Leagues or 45 total days on an active roster during the regular season, according to MLB rules. That means that Chandler, the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline, will likely have to wait at least another week before getting his long-awaited call-up to the big leagues.

And why is protecting Chandler's rookie eligibility so important? Why, to save money, of course. The longer the Pirates delay Chandler's call-up, the longer they have until he becomes arbitration-eligible and penny-pinching owner Bob Nutting has to pry open his tightly-sealed wallet to pay him, oh, I don't know, what he's worth?

Indeed, the Pirates probably learned their lesson after promoting Paul Skenes in May of last season. He went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year award, robbing the Pirates of that extra season of cost control on their generational talent that they continue to waste. Such a heroic sacrifice by Nutting and company.

Pirates GM Ben Cherington clearly running out of excuses to keep Bubba Chandler in Triple-A

It's hardly a bold claim to say that Chandler will make his debut at some point this season. At this rate, it's a foregone conclusion. The only reason it hasn't happened yet is purely financial in nature.

Fans know it. Chandler probably knows it. And yet, general manager Ben Cherington continues to insult our intelligence with the kind of drivel he spewed Sunday during his weekly radio show on 97.3 The Fan in Pittsburgh.

"The opportunity has to open," Cherington said of a possible Chandler promotion. "We’re not going to force someone out of a spot just to do it, unless there’s a reason to."

So, an opportunity has to open. An opportunity like, say, a gaping hole in the Pirates' rotation left by the surprise deadline trade of Bailey Falter to the Kansas City Royals? One that has been filled by a rotating cast of characters that includes struggling prospect Thomas Harrington (who is already back in Triple-A and is now on the injured list retroactive to Aug. 9) and bulk reliever Braxton Ashcraft? Who exactly would Chandler be "forcing out of a spot" on the Pirates' roster?

We all know that Chandler will make his MLB debut at some point before the end of the season, but we also know why it hasn't happened yet. The Pirates – and Cherington – aren't fooling anybody.

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