Thousands sign petition urging Pirates owner to sell the team

A petition drive is underway, lobbying Major League Baseball to force the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates to sell the team.

The drive on Change.org is seeking 25,000 signatures. It appeared the petition organizers were nearing their goal early Wednesday afternoon.

“Pittsburgh is a baseball town that is being destroyed by a greedy owner. There are so many loyal fans who truly care and support this team through thick and thin. We deserve better,” the petition reads. “... There needs to be change from the top of the organization down. Bob Nutting needs to sell this team, so that we can see a competitive baseball team year in and year out. It is obvious that he doesn’t want to spend the money to make that happen. We need an owner who has a competitive spirit and loves the game of baseball!”

The petition was started a day after the Pirates announced they would trade Andrew McCutchen, the face of their franchise, to the San Francisco Giants.

The move, two days after the Pirates parted with pitcher Gerrit Cole in a fiveplayer trade, signaled general manager Neal Huntington’s ongoing effort to dismantle a veteran core to cut payroll, restock the minor league system and rebuild the roster to contend down the road.

“We appreciate the passion of our fans and respect their desire to express that passion both in good times and bad,’ said Brian Warecki, vice president of communications for the Pirates. “The last two seasons simply have not been good enough. Our expectations, and that of our fans, are much higher. We embrace and share this standard, and look forward to meeting those expectations.”

“Pittsburgh is a baseball town that is being destroyed by a greedy owner. ... We deserve better.” — Part of the petition on change.org