Despite news that the Pittsburgh Pirates were retaining the services of manager Clint Hurdle, a final decision has yet to be made on the matter, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
According to a Pirates front-office source, nothing has been decided any which way. Still going through things and figuring out what moves to make.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) September 26, 2019
The latest reports directly contradict Hurdle's apparent security. The 17-year manager told Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic that he had been assured by the front office that he would be back for another season:
The Pirates are expected to make changes to their front office and coaching staff this offseason, but manager Clint Hurdle believes his job is secure. Hurdle told The Athletic on Wednesday that he recently received assurance from the organization that he will be back as manager next year. It will be Hurdle’s 10th season with the Pirates and his 18th as a major-league manager.
Hurdle still has two years left on a contract extension that he signed at the end of the 2017 season.
The Pirates have been one of the worst teams in baseball since the All-Star break. Prior to the Midsummer Classic, the Bucs had a 44-45 record and were just 2 1/2 games back in the National League Central. But they have since imploded.
Pittsburgh has gone 23-46 in the second half with a -118 run differential entering play on Thursday. More ominously, they have had plethora of internal dramas leak out to the media.
Reliever Keone Kela was reportedly suspended due to an altercation with the bullpen coach, and Kyle Crick had to undergo surgery in his right index finger after a fight with closer Felipe Vazquez. Of course, Vazquez himself has since been arrested for a number of charges, including statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors.
Hurdle has also drawn the ire of other managers, who have felt that he has targeted opposing hitters and played a role in inciting bench-clearing brawls.
He has also presided over a team that has not made the playoffs since 2015.
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