Given the way Scott Boras approaches negotiations and the high price tags he sets for his clients, the chances of him and Pirates owner Bob Nutting finding common ground seem pretty slim. One thing is clear, though: Boras strongly disagrees with how the Pirates and other small-market teams approach the offseason. Even Pat McAfee has voiced support for pushing such owners out of the league.

Scott Boras said, “It’s not about the most money… they have winning desires… This is like restaurants… The Dodgers have created what they have with investment and ideas… They’ve optimized their operation.”

Pat McAfee added, “Have you ever negotiated with him(Bob Nutting)… his guy’s got $15 billion in contracts. He never even talked to one of the owners… get these owners out of the league, we would back it completely.”

Boras has been one of the most powerful agents in baseball for decades, consistently shaping the free-agent market with record-setting deals for his clients.

He founded the Boras Corporation, which represents roughly 175 major league players and has negotiated nearly $15 billion in total compensation during his career. In 2024, Boras secured a $765 million contract for Juan Soto, the largest deal in sports history, reinforcing his belief that elite players deserve top market value.

Boras is also known for pushing teams to spend aggressively and has even influenced league policies over the years to better protect player value in negotiations.

His client list includes some of baseball’s biggest stars, highlighting the trust players place in his negotiating power. Boras has negotiated more than nine of the 23 contracts in MLB history worth over $200 million, including deals for Alex Rodriguez, Bryce Harper, and Gerrit Cole.

Among major agencies, Boras also leads in average annual value negotiated for his clients, often exceeding projected market values. That level of influence makes him a central figure in how teams evaluate talent and allocate payroll.

Despite his success, Boras has openly criticized how certain organizations operate, particularly the Pirates under owner Bob Nutting.

He has said on record that he has spoken with Nutting only a couple of times and has never negotiated directly with him. That fact highlights the contrast between Boras’s client-first approach and the Pirates’ conservative spending philosophy.

Pittsburgh’s payroll has ranked near the bottom of the league for years. In 2025, the team sat 27th out of 30 clubs with a payroll of around $83.8 million, a situation that has frustrated both fans and analysts. Many believe that underinvesting has limited the organization’s ability to support its young talent and compete consistently for playoff spots.

Fans and media figures argue that this spending gap affects the league’s overall health. Paul Skenes, the team’s young ace who led MLB with a 2.02 ERA in 2025, has publicly urged the organization to make intentional moves to strengthen the roster.

Online and in stadiums, fans have also criticized ownership for reportedly offering low extension figures. Many worry that the team’s reluctance to spend could eventually lead to Skenes leaving in free agency. At the same time, some fans in Pittsburgh have even booed voices like Pat McAfee after he publicly pushed the Pirates to increase spending.

The issue goes beyond one franchise and reignites long-standing debates about fairness and sustainability in baseball. Boras has argued that when teams pay fair market value for talent, it elevates the entire sport by attracting more fans and raising the level of competition.

However, when certain clubs refuse to spend competitively, it can weaken the league’s appeal and leave passionate fan bases feeling neglected. Those frustrations often echo through stadiums, broadcasts, and social media, showing just how deeply financial commitment matters to fans who want their teams to succeed.

The debate around Boras and Nutting ultimately reflects a broader question in baseball: whether every franchise is truly committed to competing for championships, or simply operating within financial comfort zones.

The Pirates have a chance to shut down the calls of ‘cheap owners’

We have all heard Bob Nutting labeled a “cheap owner,” but a move like this could change that narrative. The Pirates could consider trading top prospect Konnor Griffin for Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., who returned in 2025 and hit .290 with 21 home runs and 42 RBIs in just 95 games after recovering from a torn ACL.

Such a deal would instantly give Pittsburgh a proven run producer in the lineup and a player who earned the 2025 NL Comeback Player of the Year award. Fans at PNC Park would have a reason to feel energized again, especially watching a hitter of Acuña’s caliber during a potential playoff push.

Adding Acuña’s bat and on-base ability would immediately make the Pirates more competitive. His .935 OPS ranked among the best in baseball in 2025 among players with 400 or more plate appearances.

Seeing him deliver runs and come through in clutch situations could quiet doubts about Pittsburgh’s offense in tight pennant races. However, the risk of another injury still lingers, particularly after he missed significant time over the past two seasons.

Acuña is currently on a team-friendly eight-year, $100 million contract that pays about $17 million in 2026, with club options running through 2028. However, it is widely expected that a major extension will follow soon.

Fans might welcome the move as a sign that the organization is serious about winning rather than simply waiting for prospects to develop. Still, trading Griffin for what could amount to only a few seasons of Acuña could leave Pittsburgh without a long-term cornerstone if the Braves’ All-Star eventually reaches free agency.