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.
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.