Pirates rumor linking Cody Bellinger to Pittsburgh feels detached from reality

Here we go again. Jim Bowden, professional Hope Trafficker, has decided the Pittsburgh Pirates might be whispered into the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes.

And by “sweepstakes,” I mean the New York Yankees. Maybe the New York Mets. And then — somewhere way down the scroll bar — a soft-focus mention of the Pirates so we can all feel something again.

Bowden laid it out like this: Bellinger wants to stay in New York, whether it's with the Yankees or Mets. If not? He’d consider the Los Angeles Dodgers reunion. And then… the Pirates. Off in the shadows. Somewhere. Maybe. Possibly. In theory. If the planets align and Bob Nutting suddenly morphs into Steve Cohen overnight.

Bellinger is coming off a 29-homer season in New York with 98 RBI, 160 hits and a .272 average. He plays all three outfield spots. He’s a clubhouse leader. He fits a huge Pirates need in left field. He instantly lengthens the lineup and gives Paul Skenes a fighting chance at real run support.

In other words, Bellinger makes perfect baseball sense for Pittsburgh. And that’s exactly why he will not play here. Because teams like the Yankees and Mets don’t “look into” Bellinger — they expect Bellinger. They sign Bellinger’s market comps and his agent’s next client. Meanwhile, the Pirates are deciding whether they can afford a left-handed back-end starter and a closer without triggering Nutting’s panic rash.

Jim Bowden continues peddling false hope with latest Pirates-Cody Bellinger rumor

Bowden knows what he’s doing here. It isn't even malicious; it's just lazy.

He tosses the Pirates into the rumor mill like garnish. A sprinkle. A dash. A “Well I’ve heard whispers…” to keep small-market fans engaged. The implication being: “Hey Pirates fans — your team could be serious about pursuing Bellinger. Maybe. Ish. In a fake theoretical universe.”

But false hope is still hope — and that’s the problem. Pirates fans are starving for relevance. For the first time since 2015, there’s real buzz around Paul Skenes, the additions of Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe, the eventual arrival of Konnor Griffin, and actual offensive upside in the form of Jhostynxon García.

Bowden dropping “Pirates” into a Bellinger segment is like dangling a ribeye over a rescue dog. It’s cruel, it’s unnecessary, and it keeps expectations stuck in fantasy land instead of where they should be: holding the front office accountable to do something truly bold.

Bellinger isn’t choosing Pittsburgh unless Nutting shocks the sport — and Bowden knows it. So stop selling hope as if it’s progress. We’ve already bought enough of that to last a lifetime.