Pirates owner Nutting confident despite budget limitations

Posted February 24, 2016 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen follows the flight of the ball while taking batting practice during a spring training baseball workout, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting doesn't think his team's fiscally conservative decisions in the offseason will prevent the club from contending in 2016.

Nutting said Wednesday he doesn't have "any concern" about the Pirates being able to keep pace with big-spending rivals Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

Pittsburgh won 98 games and earned a third straight wild-card berth in 2015 and spent most of the offseason adding role players. The Cubs and Cardinals, meanwhile, lavished lucrative contracts on proven veterans. Nutting said the Pirates were opportunistic when it came to making decisions on who to chase on the open market.

Nutting added the team remains committed to giving All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen an extension when McCutchen's contract is up in a couple of years.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle watches batting practice during a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang, of South Korea, flips the ball to himself during a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman John Jaso fields a ground ball during a spring training baseball workout, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

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