Pirates GM on new CBA: 'Nothing changes as far as what we need to do to build a winning team'

BRADENTON, Fla. — Now that the baseball lockout has ended and spring training is officially underway, Ben Cherington tried to put a positive spin on the new collective bargaining agreement that ensures a full 162-game season but does little to benefit the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Nothing changes as far as what we need to do to build a winning team,” Cherington said.

The Pirates general manager danced around questions Monday at LECOM Park about why club chairman Bob Nutting was one of 30 MLB owners to vote in favor of a deal that raises both the competitive balance tax threshold and major league minimum salaries, despite the disparity in spending between the top and bottom teams. The Pirates have finished in last place in the NL Central three consecutive years, including a 101-loss season last year.

“I think it’s important for the game, for our fans, but also for the Pirates to be back playing baseball,” Cherington said, noting the need for the team to improve and engage fans put off by the 99-day impasse in negotiations. “I think Bob recognizes that’s important and wants what’s best for the game globally and wants what’s best for the Pirates. He’s been a really strong advocate for Pittsburgh, for teams like Pittsburgh, as far as what will give us and teams like us the best chance to succeed and prosper. He has fought hard for those issues and will continue to fight hard.”

The Pirates were one of the clubs targeted by the MLB Players Association for failing to field a competitive team, given their paltry payroll and penchant for trading their top talent for prospects to rebuild their farm system. The MLBPA even refused to drop a grievance field against the Pirates, Miami Marlins, Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays.

Cherington defended Nutting and team president Travis Williams, who have promised to deliver a winning team but first decided to strip the major league product down to the studs in a slow rebuild.

Cherington knows it’s a hard sell, especially now.

“We care a lot and we care about the game. Obviously, we want the game to prosper and be healthy, and we believe the Pirates succeeding is an important part of the game prospering and being healthy,” Cherington said. “Bob and Travis and I have talked a lot in the last two years about the relationship between the game and players and how to grow that, how to make it better. Part of that certainly relates to CBA and the specific positions within the CBA.

“When it comes to negotiating, we can advocate for certain things and we can express opinion to the league. Ultimately, we’re not in that room physically doing negotiations. Obviously, Bob’s got a closer connection to what’s happening in that room than I do. I know he’s advocating strongly for Pittsburgh every step of the way and will continue to do so. Just because the CBA’s resolved doesn’t mean there’s an opportunity to keep fighting for stuff that we care about moving forward.”

One of the issues that could punish the Pirates is the implementation of a lottery for the top six spots in the MLB Draft to prevent teams from tanking. The Pirates have chosen in the top 10 in three of the last four years but even after finishing with the fourth-worst record in baseball could run the risk of dropping in the draft order.

“Every draft is an opportunity,” Cherington said. “When we’re years out, I never really thought about it exactly where you’re gonna pick, whether it’s at (Nos.) 4, 7 or 10, whatever. Our job is to build a team where we’re picking later in the first round. That’s what we’re focused on.”

“We know that young talent is incredibly important to the Pirates. The draft is an important part of bringing young talent into the organization, but you can find players in every round of the draft. Our job in baseball ops is to set up a process in scouting and the way we analyze information where we’re giving ourselves a chance to get good players in every round, not just the first. That doesn’t change. As I said, really nothing in this CBA will change our strategy and our focus and what we need to do to win here.”