Brandon Lowe trade might have changed complexion of Pirates in unexpected way

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. If contending teams sold “We’re trying to win,” the Pirates sold “Give us three years.”

But this winter? The Pirates — yes, those Pirates — traded for Lowe, one of the most productive left-handed bats in the league when healthy. They didn’t ship him somewhere to cut costs; they brought him here to hit in the middle of the order. And according to Kratz, that kind of move changes conversations.

O’Hearn didn’t just sign with the Pirates because he wanted a job. He could get that anywhere. But the Pirates now have real lineup protection in Lowe, an MVP-caliber ace in Paul Skenes, an outfield anchor in Bryan Reynolds –– and, yes, No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin on the way.

Suddenly this doesn’t feel like a layover stop in a rebuild timeline. It feels like a team on the rise that wants veterans who can push it forward — not just babysit prospects. And that matters.

Brandon Lowe trade may have quietly changed Pirates' reputation, and free agents are noticing

Free agents talk. Clubhouse reputations exist. Plenty of guys around the league know what a half-hearted “retool” looks like. But this winter doesn’t look like that. It looks like a GM saying, "We're going to invest. We're going to supplement the kids. And we're going to act like a real baseball team."

And when Kratz suggests Lowe may have been the proof-of-concept moment that sealed things for O’Hearn? Yeah. That tracks. Because let’s be honest: five years ago –– heck, even one year ago –– this doesn’t happen. A veteran bat doesn’t see Pittsburgh as a place to chase October. He sees it as a place to rebuild value.

But this Pirates roster now has star power, veteran stability, middle-of-the-order danger, high-end youth ready to explode and legitimate expectations from the top down. And for the first time in a long time, it feels like players actually want in rather than simply accepting the offer because they couldn't get a better one.

This is the most underrated effect of a bold move like trading for Lowe. He doesn't just lengthen Pittsburgh's lineup; he changes the perception of the organization around the league. The Pirates are not asking players to wait for 2028 anymore. They're trying to matter now.

If O’Hearn — someone who easily could’ve gone elsewhere — felt that in the room? Good. Because other free agents will, too.

And if this really is the beginning of a perception shift — if the Pirates are now a team players choose rather than one they simply endure — then Lowe’s arrival may end up being even more meaningful than the box scores suggest.

For once, the Pirates aren't just selling hope. They’re selling belief. And apparently, guys around the league are buying it.