For the first time in a long time, the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t just talk about upgrading the lineup — they actually did it.
Landing Brandon Lowe in that three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays was a real, tangible statement. It brought power to an offense that’s spent years begging for it. 31 home runs don’t just slide into the Pirates’ lineup quietly. They demand space.
And that’s where things get uncomfortable — because that space used to belong to Nick Gonzales.
Not long ago, Gonzales was the plan. A first-round pick.