Ben Cherington's Trade Comments Add More Worry for Pirates Fans
Ben Cherington's Trade Comments Add More Worry for Pirates Fans
The Pittsburgh Pirates general manager isn't assuaging fans' bullpen concerns. Dominic Campbell|
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Pittsburgh PiratesPITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates don't have a bullpen that will get them to the postseason and both general manager Ben Cherington and fans of the team know this.
The Pirates bullpen has struggled massively in 2026, as they haven't had pitchers they can rely on in high-leverage situations, or really even low-leverage situations, costing the team numerous games in a season that they have playoff aspirations.
Cherington spoke about the bullpen on The Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan and said much of the same when asked about it prior, that they will make moves, but can't do anything at the moment.
“....Yeah I think urgency, absolutely, I think we should have urgency," Cherington said. "...Trades are inevitably gonna happen at some point, but we’re two weeks from the draft and usually, and there’s a good chance, really, that nothing picks up until after the draft.”
Cherington Can't Keep Making Excuses
The words Cherington uttered do make sense, as trades likely won't happen for a few weeks and especially not until the draft, which takes place July 11-12.
Only one real trade has had this season of significance so far in MLB, with the Chicago Cubs adding New York Mets left-handed pitcher David Peterson, who has been more a starter than a reliever.
The issue for Cherington is that, while making trades for a serious addition to the bullpen at this time isn't really feasible and he is right, you can't just rely on saying that every time the bullpen implodes and expect Pirates fans to be fine with it.
Another problem from Cherington was him spending almost six minutes talking about the bullpen and most of it was about three incidents and whether they were unlucky or something to make more about, which doesn't really illustrate the problems to the fan base.
He did end his speech with a summary of what he said to make it more digestible, but there wasn't anything concrete towards saying what the real fixes of the bullpen are going forward.
“...So long way of saying, we need to be better," Cherington said. "We all have a job to make it better. What we want to make sure is we separate out things that are probably just rotten luck that maybe smooth out over time from things that we can actually improve from an execution standpoint and then that’s putting aside, can we add guys to the team? At some point, I hope we can, and we’re working on that. It’s still pretty early and not a lot of trades happen this early.”
Pirates Fans Know This Team Needs Bullpen Additions
Baseball fans are tough to satisfy, but Pirates fans aren't ignorant. They know the quality of this team and they can see a bullpen that isn't reliable or strong enough to back the rest of the team.
Pittsburgh was above .500 at the midpoint of the season, 41-40, for the first time since 2015, the last time they made the postseason.
The Pirates are a few games back in the National League Wild Card and with one of the best offenses in baseball and a generally solid starting rotation, there is a realistic chance they could finally play meaningful baseball this fall.
Cherington and the Pirates front office did make one bullpen addition, but it was just right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton, reuniting with him in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, sending catcher Joey Bart, not really the move that seriously improves the bullpen.
Pirates fans want to hear that you not only understand the problem, but that you're going to fix it and not making any excuses doing so.
Cherington is right that they won't make their biggest move until closer to the trade deadline, but it's a season where there is a lot on the line, including potentially his job as general manager.
Pirates fans have seen so little success over the past 30 years, so Cherington doesn't need to parse words or hold back.
The fan base knows the issues, so Cherington being as blunt as possible is the best option for him and there's no reason for him to act otherwise.
Published 9 hours ago
DOMINIC CAMPBELLDominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
