The Pirates are hiring Sarah Gelles to be an assistant general manager, per a report from Eno Sarris and Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic. Since 2019, she had been working for the Astros as director of research and development.
Not too long before the report of the hiring, Sarris had published an article at The Athletic which highlighted rising stars in the world of baseball, including coaches, front office personnel and analysts. Gelles was the first name on the list. “She received the most votes from our pool,” the piece says, “and those came from rival executives, analysts who have worked with her, and independent contractors who saw the value in her work.”
Joining the Pirates is a full-circle move for Gelles, as she began her career as an intern with the Bucs, per Sarris. A profile from Brian Murphy at MLB.com highlights that she then worked for the Orioles from 2011 to 2018, first as coordinator of baseball analytics and then as director of baseball analytics. As mentioned, she then went to the Astros in 2019 to be director of R&D for that club.
That decade-plus of front office experience has now led to a promotion in Pittsburgh, working in the front office of general manager Ben Cherington. Since the Pirates don’t run huge payrolls, analytics figure to be important to the club’s future as they look to find talent via the draft, international signings and in transactions with other clubs.
Yeah, let’s hire an assistant GM, announce home game times, new ticket prices, receive permission to install a large screen outside of PNC Park to increase revenue for the local stores and then let pitcher Thomas Hatch sign with a Korean team
But they still need 2 starting pitchers and a first baseman
Hopefully Cherington has a plan for what remains a mystery
Only 2
Sorry, are you upset about Thomas Hatch going to Korea?
I’m not upset, this is has become predictable for this franchise
Announce of ticket prices before the fans even know what they are paying for. An improvement from last year or will they be the same mediocre franchise we’ve come to expect?
People here are missing the point, I have no problem with Hatch signing with Korea and if it needs explaining further you’re not paying attention
I think every team announces ticket prices before the offseason is over
still missing my point
what’s the use?
You said:
“Announce of ticket prices before the fans even know what they are paying for.”
tstas said:
“I think every team announces ticket prices before the offseason is over”
I think his was spot-on correct, and I was going to say the same thing.
Then you should not have brought up Hatch at all. (And, for the record, as a Jays fan, I can assure you Hatch has disappointed other organisations.)
Or not bring up Hatch was a Blue Jay for no good reason.
You’re concerned they let a 29 year old pitcher with 69 career innings pitched (nice) leave for Korea, where he got a nice pay bump to $1.8 million?
And what does hiring an assistant GM have anything to do with preventing them from making free agency moves? If anything, it helps lol
Remember, it’s still early in the offseason!
Not even Korea, it was Japan.
And here I am over here celebrating that Thomas Hatch won’t be on this team anymore… and I’ve seen two people now upset about him going? Even though I think the only reason they’re upset is because the Pirates aren’t signing NEW players. I get it, this offseason has been slow… but Thomas Hatch?
I told you the plan. Whoever isn’t in high demand they will aquire. They have until March. No rush.
I don’t know whether to laugh at your response or at the Pirates inaction this far. “They have until March”. This from someone who states “the rebuild is over”
You seem to have a knack for using pretzel logic where the Pirates are concerned. Thoughts that change like the weather and justifications that wouldn’t fly in little league
@TheMan3 is absolutely right in his assessment although I count them as needing 3 starting pitchers
@misterfigs Rebuild is over. They traded away all the expiring contracts and don’t seem to be awful enough to lose 100 games and get elite draft picks. It’s time to try and win. Obviously trade your Kellers Bednars if possible and if they won’t extend. But that’s reloading.
I haven’t seen anyone sign that made me think that was someone Pittsburgh should have signed. Plenty of players available. I would recommend sitting back relaxing and see what they do. If you like I will let you know when it’s time to worry about their inactivity.
Dream, they have a 1-man starting staff. Are you joking? Look, it’s nice to be optimistic. And I’ll agree that they are better than at the end of Huntington’s tenure *and* that I’m jumping the gun a bit as it’s only November. But sheesh. They can’t afford to wait until March. I’m guessing you know that but enjoy the banter
They’re a team in dire need and truthfully, any of the starters who’ve already been moved this off season would have been good additions. Beggars can’t be choosers after all
Waiting till March is going to give them a staff of Keller, the Hill/Keuchel variety and rookies who really aren’t ready
Cmon now.
@misterfigs Having until March isn’t the same as waiting until March. Hopefully and they should sign someone before then. If not they are likely in trouble and might think the rebuild is over and want another top 5 draft pick and Keller trade return. I wouldn’t recommend doing that. I expect them to add and try to improve.
Dream- The disconnect is the definition of rebuild.You really are the only poster that I have seen who defines it the way that you do.My definition as previously mentioned is a design to win games and includes not only the trading of veterans but the development of the younger players acquired and drafted.
The goal is to win games and not accumulate prospects.
As far as obviously trading your stars and superstar for young players,wouldn’t that be considered rebuilding?
And it seems that your triumvirate as I mentioned before may very well be spot on- another iteration of Hill,Vince,and the new player Lorenzon.
You may be able to be sunny about those signings but I doubt that any other Pirate fan is.
@Mendoza Line 215 The rebuild is over. It doesn’t have to be successful. 2 or 3 years from now if there has been no success another rebuild will have to take place. Pirates don’t have any superstars. Trading an expiring pitcher doesn’t mean you are rebuilding. Or your closer. Lopez Hader Snell Bauer Clevinger Kluber Carrasco Lindor were traded and those teams certainly weren’t rebuilding. Your players either sign extension or get traded. That’s how you sustain winning.
Those players were not traded for young players under development.They were traded for players who could help the team now,Trading your best players on a less than mediocre team only undermines the fan experience and your team having the chance to win,
Under our definition of rebuild you would go on another four years.
Five years is plenty of time to develop a winning team.
Otherwise you are running a serious risk of being the Royals or Tigers or Angels.
Nope under my definition it’s over. And who says they have to trade for prospects?
I thought I replied but apparently it didn’t fly so here goes, again:
I’m not sure what the parameters of “rebuild” are for you. Restocking the minors? Sure. Take player development out of it, I agree
But until the young stud pitchers get here in ‘25 and show their mettle, it can’t possibly be called finished
Texas, Arizona? Yes
The Cubs, Reds and Pirates? Not yet
Your comment is akin to being tasked to rebuild a bridge. After completing three-quarters of it, how would you proclaim the rebuild is finished? Sorry, I appreciate your insights but that’s overly optimistic, at best
Man, Nippon Ham Fighter fans will be so upset when they find out their team moved to Korea.
It’s not even December yet. Check back in Feb.
Lol imagine being upset by teams taking care of multiple facets of their organizational plans and tasks in November. It is completely typical of organizations of this size and complexity to have multiple teams working on multiple projects at once. This is the typical time in which teams make front office hires bro, at the beginning of the off-season. Given that AGMs work on player acquisitions its sensible to get them in place asap. Its not like fans have to buy tickets before they “know what they’re paying for” ya know.
Imagine calling yourself a fan without one shred of knowledge about the business aspects of running a franchise. Spot on assessment on your part.
I buy tickets to build memories with my two sons; my season tickets went up like $0.25 per ticket. Worth every penny to see my kids losing their minds when Joshua Palacios burst into laughter at their custom Palacios brothers T-shirts I made for them; he called them down to the dugout to sign them. They will NEVER forget that. That’s what I’m paying for, and if you think you’re paying for anything else, you probably need think long and hard about what you prioritize in life.
The pirates need at least 3 starting pitchers.
And they have plenty of time to get them
So do about 15 other teams if they’re honest with themselves.
All of the above, except Hatch, are the responsibility of Travis Williams.
So a 28 year old with a career 4-4 record with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP is who you want pitching for us next year…. Hard Pass
I hope the Pirates can take April of 2023, and do that for an entire season.
That was the result of strategic planning and luck that seems impossible to do for more than a month or two let alone entire season.
That’s true, they vastly overachieved.
She’s certainly going up the ladder, might be the next female GN in baseball the way she’s going.
call me a pittsburgh fan now!
Being a Pirates fan is for life… not just for Christmas.
Being a Pirates fan is for life… not just for Valentine’s Day
I’ll bet any money, my meme is older than your meme!
times-series.co.uk/news/665108.a-dog-is-for-life-n…
Love is the oldest meme and it seems that lloyd’s ripe for falling in love…
He IS called Christmas, though. That was my main inspiration.
Congratulations Sarah! Good luck in your new position.
*Yawn*
I like the hiring. Very promising resume and hopefully she can help the Pirates take the next step because I’m not 100% sure Cherington is tje guy to do that.
I hope Cherington is. The odds of getting someone better aren’t good. I have Pirates as 9th best front office at best. Not good enough. Player development has to improve as it would be much lower than 9th.
I never thought I would agree with you Dream, there’s a first for everything
Improving the front office is a good thing, improving player development is yet to happen if ever
All of these prospects that BC and his predecessor traded for, they continue to falter at the major league level
But hey, ticket sales for home games were announced today!
@TheMan It’s all good. I tell it like it is even if it’s not popular. Agreeing isn’t fun. Most disagreements I have with Pirates fans are because they refuse to accept reality. If you all would accept that payroll will be under 120m and probably no more than 100m and that if they aren’t contenders it will be closer to 50m you would agree more often. It’s one of the worst markets and Bob doesn’t own around it. You can’t spend more unless you want to spend your own $. Unless Cohen buys Pirates or Bob gets ill and desperately wants a championship before he parts.
Mark Cuban might have a couple of billion to spare very soon!
Still very much doubt Nutting would sell though.
You’re preaching to the choir here, Dream. No one expects them to spend like the big boys. That’s a given. But the idea that Nutting doesn’t have the money is patently ridiculous. He does. He’s frugal. He’s a businessman. He wants profits first. But going after some of the names in the second tier when he has a core of good young players is another story
I get that there is a great deal of thought that needs to go into all this, of course
On one hand, this group proved they could compete down the stretch. Maybe signing a couple of starters would make sense to see if the team can at least get out of the gate strong
On the other, it’s a conundrum. You have three starters coming back mid summer and a number of studs on the farm who look to be promising
I’m guessing they’ve made the decision to do as you say….focus on the latter idea. That is, wait and see how the surgically repaired pitchers progress and take a look at the studs in Bradenton
I’m ok with that. Let the kids mature for another year while the pitchers progress. Shoot for ‘25. Fine
Yeah, Nutting has a team in a small market and must spend carefully. I get all that. But the problem has always been that he won’t spend until the last possible moment—and it’s hard to look at the inaction and have the average fan see a silver lining for ‘24
@Terrier1980 Doesn’t sound like he wants to sell. Don’t know if Cuban would want to spend his own $. I only know of near death owners and Cohen as spending own $ on payroll.
Nutting will spend 100m when it should be done. Haven’t heard him trying to get a new stadium or move. I personally think Pittsburgh is fortunate to have a legacy team and a owner that is fine with keeping it there.
I’m with you on cutting Nutting some slack as an owner. I remember the Bucs spending around $100m last time they were competitive and it was a real shame Huntington effed up all his own good work with a couple of awful trades in the late 2010’s.
I really don’t think Cuban would be interested in the Bucs now, but he certainly was around the time McClatchy bailed and Bob took over from his father as managing partner.
@Misterfigs When he is below 100m and every other team is above 150m I get on him hard. Until then I see other markets with domes, better weather, no nhl, no nfl, who own business around the stadium and never spent over 120m 130m 140m. So if everyone else is pocketing $ then no reason to expect Nutting to be any different.
I expect them to sign or trade for 2 starters on mlb contracts. If they don’t they should be called out. If they somehow win without that I will apologize.
@Terrier1980 One needs to accept most teams priority is to make a profit. Nutting spends when he can make more profit. If fans would show up just because he spends he would every year. But they don’t.
Huntington was awful at player development. Archer trade likely got him fired sooner. I’d call that a win. Prospects are useless without player development. Cherington may end up the same. He wins most his trades but development is the key.
Cuban did an in depth interview with the PG a few years ago and covered a great deal of topics. Among them was this idea that he’d be the guy coming over the hill to save the day
Unfortunately, Cuban said he had no interest in buying the Pirates and more notably, that Nutting would be insane to sell and that under the current financial plan of MLB revenue sharing, ownership here was making a very nice profit
I’m sure you can google that interview
There was some commentary about small market and the like which I admittedly can’t remember. But he pretty much threw cold water on the idea
That said, I wonder if anyone has asked Thomas Tull
This is the article from 2005 that I was referring to.
espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2216809
No. Cuban’s interview with the PG was 3 years ago, I believe
Again, they are in a dilemma
Sign better pitchers (or trade) and “go for it” this season OR sign adequate guys and bide time while the surgically repaired heal and the young guns mature
You’re agreeing that they’re opting for door number 2.
If they “have until March” and wait to see who’s still available, you’re essentially resigned to guys like Hill, Keuchel, Carasco, Syndergaard and Clevinger as general placeholders
I can salute that decision. Makes sense
I disagree with your assessment about dome, weather and businesses. In fact, public tax money built PNC Park with the promise that incoming businesses could rest assured that fans would flock to the area to see a winning team
Granted, that was the McClatchy era but recently, the organization just reaffirmed their support in expanding the corridor. More restaurants, bars, shops
You’re out of your depth in supplying this overused rationale for Pirates ownership. None of what you listed is applicable beyond the idea of being in a smaller market and smaller ballpark.
I’ll be interested to see what this pledge—which I believe is financial, too—does to expand the area. Just yesterday they were approved for building a giant video screen outside the park. But winning brings crowds, not gimmicky event ideas that become real boring, real fast.
@misterfigs Sorry but it is relevant and a fact. More people go to a game if the weather is nicer. If you own business or parking around stadium you make more $. Last I heard Pirates only profit from what’s inside pnc park. If Bob gets land around stadium to make $ on parking restaurants etc then they can up payroll. Won’t be a drastic amount but it would help.
It’s neither option. Injuries and performance happen. Guys coming off tj and prospects are your depth. They will have limited innings. They will get 2 or 3 starters. Likely no 30m or even 20m. 100m – current roster payroll = Not enough to pay guys 20 30 million. Might all be under 10m depending on tv deal. Need $ for Cutch and 1b as well. They may just trade for 1. Some of the Marlins pitchers are cheap with lots of control. Then they might be able to sign a 12 or 15m guy.
The Pirates for years tried to offset the horrible teams they put on the field with the idea that PNC Park was one of MLB’s best along with fireworks nights, concerts after games, etc
Now that such things have become passe in terms of drawing fans, they’ve bought a 30,000 square foot lot and 15,000 square foot restaurant/bar across the street.
On top of this there are other plans for expanding the north shore
Pittsburgh weather may be iffy when the season starts but it’s no worse than colder east coast climes
You understand the irony here, don’t you?
On one hand, guys like you will carp about small market and owners who don’t have deep pockets to spend on upgrading their teams. On the other, guys like Nutting spend millions on projects like this to make the area a destination site
Money is not the problem nor has it ever been. And weather is simply a lame excuse. You’re patently wrong here
Pittsburgh is an old baseball town going back generations. Knowledgeable and passionate fan base that at the end of the day, has tired of the BS pushed at them via Pirates front office and propaganda types. Put a winning team on the field and fans will come.
The gimmicks and nearby restaurants, music and bar attractions get old quickly when you don’t wish to support a guy perceived as an aloof, lying owner and his pathetic franchise
I like to think that’s changing here, that the young team will come on like the Pirates of a decade ago. Guess we’ll see
Good Bob needs an additional revenue stream. Fan attendance isn’t going to cut it. They had one of the best teams in baseball for 3 years straight. Attendance never got above 2.5m 9th out of 15 teams. 1.5m will show up no matter what and they could have half the payroll. Keep putting Cutch out there even if you have to wheel him out and you should get a easy 2m.
Dream, again, your logic isn’t pertinent here. PNC Park holds 39K
Beautiful ballpark but simply not a huge venue. Even if they sold every seat for every game, they’d have had 3.2 million in attendance
That said, 2.6M is pretty damn good regardless of where it ranks in comparison…and it contradicts your ideas about weather, dome, etc
Again, your rationale is erroneous
And your idea about a revenue stream for Nutting, one of MLB’s richest owners, is in error, as well or at least secondary. Instead of spending millions on personnel that will come and go, spend it on ideas that will make the area a destination site
Amazingly shortsighted in that again, it is an endeavor that fails to identify the simple fact that Pittsburgh will support a winning franchise or at least, has the appearance on one that is trying to win
The general feeling in this town is just the opposite. Do you live here?
Hilarious. Their scouting department is abysmal and their player development department is worse. And apparently, their front office has decided to take a couple months off since the season ended
But hey, tell us how they have until March and that things are right on track.
That’s two of my uncles I didn’t know were associated with mlb. First Daniel Murphy now Brian Murphy.
Anyway it’s nice to see get hired for a predominantly male position.
You could find a better GM at your local discount store.
That’s not even the point. It’s not like the Pirates are gonna suddenly become the Yankees and spend money.
MLB- I like this hire but it would have been better to hire someone over Cherington who understands that small market teams need development teams and coaches who actually can teach their players how to get better.
Computers are fine but they do not take the place of experienced and good coaching staffs.
Nice hire! She is brilliant. She will be a GM someday very soon.
Kinda corny hire… I mean, she couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Well, good luck Bucs!
Sarah Michelle Gellar certainly made watching Buffy a treat for the eyes lol
Oh it’s 2 different broads? My bad
y’all.
All jokes aside, congrats to this Sarah and I hope Pitt and Cincy duke it out for the Division next year, sorry for your Cubbies acoss! The Central might be really fun to watch in ’24!
Lol close enough on the name Gwyning!
I’m hoping the Cubbies get something good, definitely wouldn’t mind getting Soto off your hands!
The Cards should be in it, too. They’re finally taking winning seriously again.
Yes I don’t mean to discount any of the Central 5… virtually any of them could win it next season. Let’s see how the offseason progresses; I’m starting to think this might be a very busy Winter Meetings for all! I hope my Pads get the arms we need, too!
>.<
As a young teen I very much enjoyed Buffy. The other slayer as well.
Dream- Slayer rules, especially Seasons in the Abyss!
Excellent taste in music Dream and Gwyning!
Mere child’s play next to “Cruel Intentions.”
At this point, I don’t see the point of using humans to play the sports. I think we should switch to all AI driven sports, given the focus and investment in analytics. I can’t wait for the first AI GM to be hired. They’ll probably make even better trades than the Rays.
What is a woman?
Legitimate question since our own gubment can’t define it…
Well they aren’t biologists. How could they?
The kid from “Kindergarten Cop” did and he wasn’t a Biologist. Just a tot in fact..
U think she drinks bud light?
She is much more wild than that. Tequilla and Whiskey all day..
Somehow I’m not surprised you don’t know anything about women, Carl.
Not only do I not know anything about them, I don’t even know what they are. Anything or anyone could be a woman. There is no set of characteristics or attributes we can point to to identify them.
People self-identify. You just have to ask them. Same as with men. You can identify as whatever gender you want; it’s a free country.
Catuli Carl – the gender that always rejects YankeesBleacherCreature
Congrats Sarah! Women power unite!
Pirates = Last place
Who is “Sarris”?
Eno Sarris, MLB Writer on The Atlantic staff… perhaps their best.
And O.G. at Fangraphs!
Apparently when he’s not writing, he’s also a Pittsburgh area chocolatier. Try the bunny rabbits and peanut butter eggs. Delicious
HUGE Error in your story:
“The Pirates are hiring Sarah Gelles to be an assistant manager”
Leaving out GENERAL is a big mistake!
Are you ok? Did you try 911?
So…. Nutting spends money to hire an assistant GM and then will claim he can’t give money to acquire established MLB talent and the team will have to dumpster dive.
Assistant gm much cheaper than any good established mlb talent. You pay non players so you don’t have to pay actual players. They either provide more value than they are paid or will be replaced.
Do you actually believe that if they passed on hiring Gelles, the savings from her nominal salary (in terms of MLB salaries) would be enough to net a high-priced player?
More of a win for Womanhood..
I have no problem with this hire. First, if she is good, some team that understands talent will pay her better money to work for them.
If she stinks, she will fit right in on this Pirate Ship of Fools.
Most of the comments on The Athletic possessed little value. But the one that made me laugh was, “This is bad news for the Rays.”
front office, scouting and development.
Two of those three need fixed.
Seeing changes to any of them is comforting that they know there are problems and they are taking steps. I’m sure they know but seeing action taken lessens my worries.
I think this could ‘make’ her career. not that it has been bad but dong well could put her in prime position for getting a GM role.