Maybe it was the money. Maybe it was the role. Maybe it was the chance to hit in front of Paul Skenes and actually play meaningful baseball games in Pittsburgh.
But when Erik Kratz — one of the hosts of Foul Territory and a former Pirate himself — floated the idea that the Brandon Lowe trade might’ve been the moment Ryan O’Hearn said, “OK…these guys are serious,” it hit differently. After all, it’s not just about Lowe; it’s about what Lowe symbolizes.
For years, when a free agent heard the words “Pittsburgh Pirates,” the images were predictable: budget constraints, talent sell-offs and future-focused promises that never quite arrived.