Top Menu

Coonelly: Pirates not basking in profits

Stung by critics who claim team put profits in front of wins, Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly says the team made only $11 million in last two seasons and plowed profits back into team.

Stung by critics who claim team put profits in front of wins, Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly says the team made only $11 million in last two seasons and plowed profits back into team.

That's not a lot, if the figures are correct — and, as well we all know, accountants can make numbers sing in one key or another. But given the team's practices in player acquisition and development, the numbers do make sense. But, given the Bucs' pathetic performance both on the field and at the gate, it's pretty clear there are no huge profits being made, so the numbers do make a lot of sense. The Pirates have spent some significant money on player development recently — $5.4 million for a Dominican academy, $2 million in Pirate City renovations, the purchase of the Sarasota Reds (High Class A; Florida State League).

Coonelly shared the figures with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they're posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.

Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!