Stuff like this is the reason why Dejan Kovacevic wins awards.
It's interesting to hear that the Pirates' players are buying into the team's plan since, as Kovacevic notes, players tend not to care about long-term goals or anything that doesn't help them win immediately. The Rays' success last year with a small payroll and tons of young players acquired through the farm system and in trades may end up buying the Pirates a lot of much-needed goodwill and time.
It's also interesting to read in some detail about the front office's level of preparation for the Bay trade. The trade was consummated in the minutes before the deadline, but it doesn't sound like the Pirates just ended up settling for some unknowns they got at the last possible second. Instead, it sounds like they controlled the process and got who they really wanted.