Part 2/8:
The Organizational Struggles: Money, Drafting, and Development
The central issue isn't necessarily money—teams like the Rays and Cleveland prove that spending big isn't the only way to succeed. Instead, the Pirates struggle with fundamental flaws: drafting, developing, and trading players effectively. The franchise’s attempts at draft picks have largely been underwhelming, with a few exceptions like Paul Skins, who was a nearly obvious slam dunk pick—so much so that even a five-year-old could have selected him.
Yet, despite this, the Pirates have shown little credit or acknowledgment for these seemingly minor successes. Their front office seems unsure of how to build a winning team, often to the frustration of their devoted fans.