The Pittsburgh Pirates took a step in the right direction during the 2011 campaign and this winter will play a large role in how much further they go in 2012 and beyond.

The Buccos were tied atop the NL Central on July 26, sitting alongside the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Pittsburgh embraced its young, overachieving ballclub with a sharp rise in attendance at PNC Park.

With the team’s popularity gaining momentum, it would be foolish for management to stomp on the brakes.

The Pirates must show a commitment to winning. Their patient and loyal fan base deserves it.

It’s not a matter of throwing blank checks at a slew of free agents, though. A team doesn’t win based on how much money it spends. Instead, it’s all about how wisely the ballclub spends its money.

Neal Huntington — who was rightfully signed to a three-year extension as the general manager in September — has a tough job ahead of him, but this is how I would tackle this offseason:

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Lock up the homegrown talentThe Pirates need to sell a dedication to building a championship-caliber team to potential free agents as much as they do to their fans.The Bucs inked Jose Tabata to a long-term deal this season and must continue that trend by securing promising players for the foreseeable future, such as Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker and even the unproven, inconsistent but wildly talented Pedro Alvarez.Huntington can tell free agents — and fans — whatever he wants about a new winning attitude in Pittsburgh, but actions speak louder than words.•

Find veterans with valueIt’s a safe bet most available players don’t have Pittsburgh atop their wish list, which limits Huntington’s options.Alex Gonzalez would be a good fit at shortstop. At 34 years old, he won’t be very expensive, but still owns a reliable glove and provides some pop in the batter’s box with 38 homers over the past two seasons.Ramon Hernandez, who’s played in Cincinnati the past three years, makes the most sense at catcher. He’ll bring some offense and is already familiar with opposing NL Central hitters.If Derrek Lee elects to go elsewhere, Casey Kotchman is coming off a solid year. Taking a chance on Mark DeRosa could also pay off if he stays healthy.The Pirates will likely pick up a starter with limited upside, so it would be wise for Huntington to couple the investment with a flier on a talented, but injury-prone starter like Rich Harden or Erik Bedard.•

Establish a presencePittsburgh fans would like to see the Pirates make a big splash in free agency, but convincing top-notch talent to sign a long-term deal is nearly impossible when the franchise hasn’t been a playoff factor since Bill Clinton was elected president.Albert Pujols will not be suiting up for the Pirates. Neither will Prince Fielder.However, it doesn’t hurt to throw your name in the mix.It’s all about altering the perception of the franchise. Even if Pujols and Fielder roll their eyes at an offer — and they would — there’s no doubting McCutchen, Walker and the next level of free agents would raise an eyebrow of intrigue.Besides, the Pirates can’t win the lottery if they don’t buy a ticket.Give the fans a glimmer of hope to cheer on Pujols or Fielder at PNC Park. Once they spurn Pittsburgh for a division rival, the rejection gives Bucco fans extra incentive to come to a game and boo them with authority.Sounds like a win-win to me.

Jason Orfao is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.