{"id":79392,"date":"2024-07-09T14:18:04","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T18:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=79392"},"modified":"2024-07-09T14:18:04","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T18:18:04","slug":"pirates-no-room-to-increase-payroll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/07\/09\/pirates-no-room-to-increase-payroll\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Pirates Have No Room to Increase Payroll at Trade Deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Per a baseball operations member, the Pittsburgh Pirates have no room to increase payroll at the upcoming trade deadline. That\u2019s what he told John Perrotto of Pittsburgh Baseball Now<\/em> under the condition of anonymity. In June, owner Bob Nutting told the media that general manager Ben Cherington had \u201cflexibility\u201d to make moves in advance of the July 30 deadline. However, the source characterized these comments as \u201cmisleading, at best\u201d and said they made front office employees \u201cfurious.\u201d It may have also been the source of Cherington\u2019s recent comments<\/a> about looking to \u201cinternal improvement\u201d more than outside help.<\/p>\n

Pirates Have Payroll Issues Ahead of Trade Deadline<\/h2>\n

Several baseball executives told Pittsburgh Baseball Now<\/em> that the Pirates are making Aroldis Chapman<\/a> available. There is also speculation that Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes<\/a> could be dealt. Dumping those salaries would give Cherington the room he needs to add an impact bat or two at the deadline.<\/p>\n

Chapman, signed for $10.5 million<\/a> in the offseason, has shown occasional flashes of his former dominance, but for the most part, hasn\u2019t given the Bucs $10.5 million worth of relief pitching. Chapman is 1-4, with three saves, a 4.13 ERA, 1.684 WHIP, and three blown saves entering Tuesday\u2019s action. \u201cThe Cuban Missile\u201d still blows up the radar gun and throws some of the highest-velocity pitches in baseball. He\u2019s struck out 14.9 batters per nine innings. However, he\u2019s also walked 8.8 per nine, which has largely contributed to his struggles.
\n