Let’s not sugarcoat it—someone had to pay for the Pirates’ brutal 12–26 start. And it wasn’t going to be the man writing the checks. So, the hammer came down on the guy in the dugout, the one who had been steering this under-resourced ship since 2019. Just like that, he was out. Gone. “Relieved of duties” after years of leading a team that was never built to win.
But he didn’t build this roster. He didn’t make the spending calls. He didn’t lock the books for another offseason. And yet, when the team nosedived, he was the one sent packing.
Meanwhile, the guy upstairs—the one who’s never given this team a fighting chance—just tightened his tie and talked about “urgency.” Bob Nutting mentioned in an official statement, “We need to act with a sense of urgency,” like urgency was something that just occurred to him in May 2025. Because the biggest free agency splash in team history was back in 2014 when Francisco Liriano was signed with a $39 million deal! Urgency or autopilot?
Pirates owner Bob Nutting says his club needs to demonstrated a “sense of urgency.”
The club’s largest free agency signing in history was the deal with Francisco Liriano (3y/$39m) signed in Nov. 2014 pic.twitter.com/5W21rDlDmx
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) May 8, 2025
The truth is, Nutting has perfected the art of dodging blame. He lets others burn while he keeps his hands clean. In the press release, he praised the outgoing manager’s character, then flipped the narrative to suggest change was overdue. And with that, he tossed Shelton under the bus with a smile.
But this story isn’t just about the removal. It’s about power, perception, and a long-standing culture of doing less while expecting more. And the fans? They’ve seen this movie before. The faces change, but the outcome never does. Because the root of the problem is still sitting in the owner’s box, pretending he’s not the reason it’s all crumbling.
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