Pirates can end the noise and make a real statement by signing Japanese slugger

At some point, “interest” stops meaning anything. Zoom calls don’t score runs. Virtual meetings don’t hit 30 home runs. And quotes about “considering upgrades” don’t make the Pittsburgh Pirates any more dangerous when the calendar flips to October.

Kazuma Okamoto would.

And if the Pirates want the baseball world to finally — finally — take them seriously as a franchise willing to spend, willing to win and willing to compete at something more than a discount level, then the dithering with Okamoto has to end. It's time to go out and actually sign him.

When the Pirates are linked to big-name free agents, fans tend to cycle through the same emotions: curiosity, followed by hope, followed by resignation. After all, history has taught them how the story usually ends.

But this offseason has felt… different. The Pirates reportedly offered $120+ million to Kyle Schwarber. They pursued Josh Naylor. They traded rotation depth to land Brandon Lowe — a move you only make if you’re serious about winning. They signed Ryan O'Hearn to a free agent deal.

And now, they’ve held multiple virtual meetings with Okamoto. Not a tire-kick. Not a rumor. An actual pursuit.

For once, this doesn’t feel like a stunt. It feels like an opportunity.

Pirates can change the narrative (and stop the noise) by signing Kazuma Okamoto

There are fair questions about any NPB star coming to MLB. The pitching is different. The velocity is different. The schedule is different.

That said, Okamoto's raw talent is undeniable. He has a career slash line of .277/.361/.521 with 248 home runs by the age of 29. He is a legitimate lineup anchor, who also happens to play third base, which is currently a position of glaring weakness in Pittsburgh. Plug Okamoto into the Pirates' lineup, and suddenly this team looks like a contending group –– one capable of manufacturing runs instead of hoping they appear.

MLB Trade Rumors projected Okamoto to sign in the majors for around four years and $64 million. In Pittsburgh, that kind of number used to trigger panic. But this isn’t the same Pirates operation –– not after they reportedly chased Schwarber with a nine-figure offer, and not after Bob Nutting's actions suggest that he may (for once) be ready to swim in deeper water.

Signing Okamoto isn’t just about the present. It's about a message –– to the clubhouse, to the league, and to the fans who have kept the lights on through the lean years –– that the Pirates are no longer pretending. And frankly, the alternative is worse: waste the Paul Skenes window, hope that Oneil Cruz figures it out (and stays healthy), and trust that patchwork bats can carry October hopes.

Boston is waiting on Alex Bregman. Toronto is watching the Bo Bichette situation. Other big-market clubs are juggling superstar dominos. This is the moment where Pittsburgh — yes, Pittsburgh — can move first.

Ben Cherington said the Pirates still want another proven bat. While Okamoto does not come with MLB experience, the pedigree speaks for itself, and the upside is worth the leap. This is the kind of move that electrifies a clubhouse, fills PNC Park before the weather warms, and tells the baseball world the Skenes Era will not be wasted. It would be bold, it would be loud, and it would be overdue.

If the Pirates want to end the speculation, the doubt, the eye-rolls, the decades of “almost” narratives –– sign Kazuma Okamoto. Make a statement. And let the rest of baseball react to you for a change.