Alex Stumpf revisits the Pirates’ biggest offseason swing: the Brandon Lowe trade.

After Lowe homered against Mike Burrows and the Astros, it feels like the perfect time to look back at why this move mattered so much for Pittsburgh. The Pirates needed left-handed power, real lineup impact, and a win-now message to the clubhouse. Lowe has delivered all of that, while also helping make Pittsburgh a more serious landing spot for Ryan O’Hearn.

Alex breaks down how the trade came together, why the Pirates’ offseason may have looked very different without it, what Lowe’s power pace means historically, and why this move stands out as one of the rare aggressive Pirates trades aimed directly at winning right now.

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