PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates are all-in as they chase the franchise's first playoff appearance in 21 years.
So is Justin Morneau.
Pittsburgh traded for the longtime Minnesota Twins first baseman Saturday, hoping the four-time All Star can give the Pirates' middling offense a jolt heading into the final month of the season.
"We felt that this move gives us a better chance to play in October, a better chance to win the division, a better chance to advance in October," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said.
And for Morneau, the opportunity to get back in a playoff race proved too good to pass up. It's why he hustled from Texas -- where the Twins were playing the Rangers -- to Pittsburgh to hang out with his new teammates for the final four innings of a 7-1 win against St. Louis that lifted the Pirates into first in the NL Central as the calendar flips to September.
"You try to get here as quick as you can because you want to be a part of this," Morneau said.
The Twins obtained outfielder Alex Presley and either a player to be named or cash in Pittsburgh's second major move in a week. The Pirates sent a pair of minor leaguers to the New York Mets on Tuesday in exchange for outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck.
