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Take a cue from division rivals
While the Cubs are proving that you can’t buy your way to a division title, the Pirates’ payroll is diminutive compared to the rest of the NL Central. They’re $14 million shy of the Reds and lagging way behind the other teams.
The Reds are, in fact, a solid model for the Pirates. Both teams have substantial young talent that keeps their payrolls low. They’re never going to be able to compete with the big pockets of the Cubs and Cards, but the Reds haven’t been afraid of mixing it up on the free-agent market. While Jemier Candelario hasn’t quite lived up to his potential in Cincinnati, Pirates fans would appreciate his production at first base.
$14 million could have brought in Candelario over Tellez. It’s the figure that landed Jack Flaherty in Detroit and Jorge Soler in San Francisco (before his return to Atlanta). It very well may be the difference between fighting for a Wild Card spot and staying home in October.